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UD men’s basketball tops Drexel, sets sights on GMU

10:53 a.m., March 1, 2004--The University of Delaware men’s basketball team picked up an important win over longtime rival Drexel University on Saturday night, defeating the Dragons 76-64 at the Bob Carpenter/Sports Convocation Center to lock up the sixth seed in the Colonial Athletic Association tournament and thus avoid a play-in game.

The CAA tournament will be played March 5-8 at the Richmond Coliseum, and the Fightin’ Blue Hens will play third seed George Mason University at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, March 6. The Hens and Patriots split their two regular season meetings, each team winning at home.

With Saturday’s victory, UD finished the regular season at 16-11 overall and 10-8 in the conference, its best showing in three seasons in the highly competitive CAA. The loss dropped Drexel, which entered the game tied for the conference lead, into second place with a record of 18-9 overall and 13-5 in conference.

UD was led by sophomore forward Harding Nana, who exploded for a career-high 28 points and pulled down 10 rebounds.

UD jumped out to a 30-21 halftime lead and held off a late Drexel surge for the victory. The Hens shot a blistering 65 percent in the second half and 52 percent for the game, and held a commanding 43-29 advantage on the boards.

Guard Rulon Washington came off the bench to score 11 points for the Hens and forward Robin Wentt had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Junior guard Mike Slattery and senior Mike Ames, playing in his final game at home, each scored 11 points.

Drexel had a three-game win streak snapped and lost for just the second time in its last 11 games. Guard Tim Whitworth kept the Dragons in the game with 22 points, including 15 in the first half when he connected on five three-pointers. Guard Jeremiah King added 15 points and a game-high eight assists.

Drexel led 10-8 midway through the first half before the Hens charged back with a 8-2 run that put them up for good at 21-12 with 7:04 left. Washington started the spurt with a three-pointer and later added a lay-up for the Hens. The nine-point lead held until intermission despite the hot shooting of Whitworth.

A quick start in the second half increased the UD lead to 37-24 as Nana scored five points in the first four minutes. Drexel rallied and cut the lead to five points several times, pulling to within 42-37 with 11:59 remaining on two free throws by Jermaine Miller.

But UD regained the momentum and ran out to a 57-42 lead with 7:48 left thanks to a 15-5 run that started on consecutive three-pointers by Washington and Slattery and a dunk by Nana. Nana closed the run with another lay-up. Drexel never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

If UD defeats George Mason, it will move on to the semifinals to face either Drexel, James Madison or the University of North Carolina Wilmington, which has knocked out the Hens in the semifinals then gone on to win the CAA title each of the last two seasons.

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