Drexel men beat James Madison, 84-78, in first game in 19 days; La Salle women lose to Duquesne
Drexel’s offense was in peak form as Camren Wynter and T.J. Bickerstaff combined for 34 points.
Drexel played its first game in 19 days against the top-ranked team in the Colonial Athletic Association, James Madison, which was missing likely CAA player of the year Matt Lewis.
And the Dragons took advantage.
Drexel’s offense was in peak form as Camren Wynter and T.J. Bickerstaff combined for 34 points in an 84-78 win at JMU’s arena on Friday. The win snapped the Dukes’ seven-game winning streak.
Wynter scored 18 points and Bickerstaff added 16 as well as eight rebounds.
Coming off the bench for the first time in his career, Drexel’s Mate Okros knocked down all five of his three-point attempts. The sophomore finished with 15 points and was a team-high plus-11 in 25 minutes.
“It was a decision that I talked to him about, and I just thought it was best for our group,” Drexel head coach Zach Spiker said of bringing Okros off the bench and starting freshman Xavier Bell.
“He gave us a spark in a different way and it makes us a little more dynamic, to be honest,” he added.
The Dragons (9-7, 4-5) led by 10 at the half, but the Dukes (13-6, 8-2) didn’t go away. But each time JMU got within a single possession, Drexel had an answer. Wynter, Okros, Bickerstaff, and Lamar Oden each knocked down big shots.
Over a three-and-a-half minute stretch midway through the second half, JMU got within one possession five times. Those baskets were followed up by three three-pointers by Okros, a Wynter triple, and a James Butler layup.
“It’s just veteran guys and confident players understanding they’ve got to step up and hit shots,” Spiker said.
Drexel shot 49% and James Madison hit 51%. The biggest difference was free-throw shooting, where Drexel made 16-of-17 and JMU converted 14-of-22 attempts.
Spiker says he wants to see Drexel take care of the basketball better before tournament play. The Dragons entered the game seventh in the CAA with 12.9 turnovers per game. They had 16 against the Dukes.
Drexel will have a week off before returning to JMU’s campus for the CAA tournament (March 6-9). Friday’s win moved the Dragons into sixth place in the CAA standings, which would potentially mean a first-round bye.
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La Salle women lose to Duquesne
The La Salle-Duquesne women’s game came down to the fourth quarter. Duquesne led most of the way, but the Explorers’ Claire Jacobs tied the game with 1 minute, 26 seconds left. La Salle’s defense appeared to be in perfect position when it cut off Duquesne’s near the sideline. But the ballhandler looked back and found a wide-open Amaya Hamilton for a 15-foot jumper.
That jumper was the difference as the Dukes (5-9, 4-6 Atlantic 10) defeated the Explorers, 74-70.
Kayla Spruill had a game-high 24 points for La Salle.
La Salle (10-13, 6-10) will finish its regular season Sunday at home against St. Bonaventure.