Drexel comes up short against Buffalo

When Frantz Massenat's three-pointer hit the rim in the waning seconds, the Drexel Dragons could only shrug. They had already seen 12 others just like it on Sunday afternoon.

Drexel couldn't buy a clutch bucket - or a three-pointer - as the Dragons fell to Buffalo, 55-52, at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Drexel shot just 1 for 14 from three-point range in the game and 0 for 7 in the second half. Coach Bruiser Flint wasn't upset with the shot selection, though.

"It's not like we were forcing three-point shots," he said. "We just didn't make any of them."

One more three-pointer may have been enough. After a missed free throw by Buffalo's Jarod Oldham with nine seconds left, the Dragons sped upcourt with the ball, down by two. Massenat missed a three-pointer with three seconds to go that could have given the Dragons a one-point edge. Buffalo's Josh Freelove rebounded the ball and made a free throw with less than a second remaining to ice the game.

Tavon Allen led Drexel with seven points in each half for a total of 14. Dartaye Ruffin was strong in the paint for the Dragons, scoring six points and pulling down 12 rebounds. Chris Fouch scored 11 of his 13 points after halftime.

Drexel shot just 32.8 percent from the field in the game, its first since Dec. 22, but Flint wasn't buying into the idea that a weeklong layoff was the reason for the poor shooting.

"That's why you practice," Flint said. "There's a game in front of you. You've got to be ready to play."

Drexel just couldn't stop Javon McCrea in the second half. The senior forward scored 16 of his 20 points in the half and also pulled down eight of his nine rebounds. He was the only Buffalo scorer in double figures.

Drexel moved to 8-4 with the loss. Buffalo improved to 6-4.

The Dragons will visit Southern Mississippi on Friday.