Drexel Holds Off Hampton 58-51 Behind Balanced Attack

Drexel's Josh Reed scored a team-high 14 points to help the Dragons secure a 58-51 victory over Hampton at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The win marked a strong performance by Drexel, who was predicted to win by 6.3 points by CHD Scout, and ultimately covered that margin with a 7-point victory. Reed's effort was complemented by Shane Blakeney and Victor Panov, who each added 11 points to the scoreboard.

The game got off to a slow start, with Drexel trailing Hampton 25-24 at halftime. However, the Dragons came out strong in the second half, outscoring Hampton 34-26 to secure the win. Xzavier Long was a bright spot for Hampton, posting a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Despite Long's strong performance, Hampton was unable to overcome Drexel's balanced attack.

Drexel's victory was a reflection of the team's resilience and ability to close out games. The Dragons have now improved to 11-11 on the season, and while they still have work to do to make a push for the postseason, this win is a step in the right direction. Hampton, on the other hand, falls to 10-12 and want to regroup and refocus as they move forward.

The matchup between Drexel and Hampton was a Quad 4 game for the Dragons, and a Quad 3 game for the Pirates. While the win doesn't necessarily move the needle for Drexel in terms of their tournament chances, it's a positive result that can help build momentum. For Hampton, the loss is a missed opportunity to pick up a Quad 4 win, which could have helped bolster their resume.

As the season wears on, Drexel want to build on this performance and make a push for the postseason. With a strong core of players, including Reed, Blakeney, and Panov, the Dragons have the potential to make some noise in their conference. For now, they'll take the win and look to carry the momentum into their next game.

The victory for Drexel is a reflection of the team's ability to execute and close out games. As they move forward, they'll look to continue to build on this performance and make a push for the postseason. With a current Net ranking of 210, Drexel still has work to do to make a serious tournament push, but this win is a step in the right direction. For Hampton, the loss drops them to a Net ranking of 243, and they'll need to regroup and refocus to make a late-season surge.