West Virginia Holds Off Drexel, 66-60 – Drexel University Athletics

MORGANTOWN, W.V.  – Drexel gave West Virginia all it could handle, but the Mountaineers held on to defeat the Dragons at the West Virginia Coliseum, 66-60. Justin Moore led Drexel with 20 points and Amari Williams had his third double-double of the year, but it wasn’t enough as the Dragons fell to 5-5.

The Mountaineers’ (4-5) offense found its rhythm early in the second half, scoring 17 points in the first five and a half minutes to take a 48-42 lead. The Dragons answered with six straight as Mate Okros and Moore hit 3-pointers to even the game. Seth Wilson’s lay-up stopped the run and gave the Mountaineers the lead for good. West Virginia extended the margin to as many as eight points, but the Dragons would not go away. Luke House scored in the paint with 1:06 to go and then the Dragons caused a turnover. Moore answered with a jumper in the lane to cut it to 64-60 with 48 seconds to go. On the ensuing inbounds play, Drexel trapped West Virginia in front of the Dragons’ bench. The Mountaineers looked as though they were about to turn it over again, but this time escaped and found Jesse Edwards alone for the dunk which sealed the win, spoiling Coach Zach Spiker‘s return trip to where he grew up.
Moore had his season-high with 20 points. handed out four assists and picked up three steals. Williams bounced back with a 12-point performance. The big man grabbed a season-high 15 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Luke House scored nine points and grabbed six rebounds. The Dragons shot 42 percent in the game but were done in by their turnovers. Drexel had 17 miscues and West Virginia took advantage by scoring 22 points off of those mistakes.
 
Jesse Edwards led the Mountaineers with 16 points. He was 7-for-10 from the floor. Quinn Slazinski added 14 points, 11 of them coming in the first half. The Dragons outrebounded the Mountaineers by seven and had 15 offensive rebounds, but West Virginia shot it well in the second half (.533) and picked up the win in front of a crowd of 9,414.
 
Drexel came out strong in its first ever appearance in a Big 12 environment. Drexel led the entire first half, but the Mountaineers were within reach for most of the frame. The Dragons took their biggest lead at 15-6 when Moore drained a 3-pointer six minutes into the game. West Virginia was able to get back in the game and trailed by just two at the break, 33-31. Moore and Amari Williams carried the offense, combining for 17 of Drexel’s 33 points. Drexel shot 52 percent in the half and the lead could have been more, but the Dragons committed 10 first half turnovers. Those led to 16 points for the home team.
 
The Dragons will finally return home to the Daskalakis Athletic Center for the first time in almost a month next weekend. Drexel will face UAlbany on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.