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Princeton University Athletics
Drexel Outlasts Princeton, 54-41
November 14, 2005 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 14, 2005
Box Score
PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) - Drexel dominated inside and got 18 points from Dominick Mejia to beat Princeton 54-41 Monday night in a Preseason NIT first-round game.
Having lost four starters off a team that won 17 games last season, the Dragons were an unknown quantity entering the contest. They started slowly, but picked up steam quickly, relying on Mejia's timely outside shooting and a 46-17 rebounding advantage to gain the victory.
The turning point came midway through the first half after a 3-pointer by Princeton's Harrison Schaen gave the Tigers a 16-9 lead. Drexel reeled off the next 17 points, with Mejia accounting for 10 of them.
Princeton didn't snap the run until Noah Savage's 3-pointer brought the Tigers within seven at the 47.6-second mark. But Randy Oveneke drained a pair of free throws to send Drexel into intermission ahead 28-19.
The Tigers closed to within four, 36-32, on a shot by Kyle Koncz from beyond the arc. But Drexel quickly regained control as Bashir Mason (10 points, five assists) and Chaz Crawford (13 points, nine rebounds) asserted themselves. Oveneke led Drexel with 14 rebounds.
Savage scored 15 points for Princeton, going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc.