The Dragons Used Defense in Getting Above .500 Overall and in Conference
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 1/29/2026 –
The Drexel Dragons defense was a key ingredient in earning a 58 – 51 win over the Hampton Pirates at the DAC. Drexel now won five of their past six games and moves to 12 – 11 overall and 5 – 4 in the CAA standings.
In a low scoring affair the Dragons had to rely on defense. Hampton shot 32.2% (19 – 50). In the second half the Pirates made 9 of 33 attempts (27.3%) in being held to their lowest point total of the season.
“If we don’t defend, we don’t win this game,” said Drexel Coach Zach Spiker. “We’d like to score a little more, but we will always defend, and that’s what going to keep us in games. I think we did a good job at one points. They were stuck on 35 for awhile.”
Yet Hampton erased a double-digit deficit to get to within 51 – 49 with two minutes to play. Drexel put the game away scoring the next seven points, all from the foul line. Hampton got their last two from the charity stripe.
Game Was Decided by a Second Half Dragons Run
The game was close throughout the first half. The Pirates held a 25 – 24 lead at halftime, then led by 3 in the second half. Then Drexel got their offense going and went on a 17 – 2 run over the next 8 minutes to take a 43 – 31 advantage with 9:16 to play. It was the breathing room the team needed.
“It was five guys out there touching the paint, moving, and talking about the OPM, open man policy. Sharing it ended up with a victim to lay it in,” Spiker said about what got the team going on offense. “I think we were more willing to find open guys and share.”
After Hampton scored the next two baskets Drexel responded by guard Josh Reed scoring the next seven points of the game to give the Dragons their largest lead at 49 – 35 as six and a half minutes showed on the clock. Reed scored a game-high 14 points on 7 of 13 shooting. He credits his teammates for his effective performance.
“I was just trying to get downhill, trying to draw people on me,” said Reed. “The scouting part was they either help a lot, or they tied to their man. So when they were tied to their man, my teammates found me.”
The Pirates used a 12 – 2 run to pull within 51 – 49, but the Dragons held on to the lead.
What the Numbers Say
For Hampton Josh Ogundele posted a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Daniel Johnson contributed 12 points.
For the Dragons Shane Blakeney and Victor Panov added 11 points each. Panov had a career-high 4 steals. Guard Kevon Vanderhorst got a sequential 4,5,6 in assists, points, and rebounds.
Up Next
Drexel concludes its three-game homestand on Saturday against North Carolina A&T. They’ve won the last two and hope to sweep the stand. It is important to protect home court.
“You always want to protect home court, especially in this conference,” Reed said.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
Be the first to comment