Delaware forces OT, but falls to Drexel

PHILADELPHIA – Delaware pulled off the difficult task of getting back into the basketball game on Saturday at the raucous Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Actually winning, however, proved elusive for the Blue Hens.

Delaware scored just one point in overtime and lost 77-74 to Drexel in the Colonial Athletic Association encounter despite a career-high 28 points from Jyare Davis. It was the Blue Hens third loss in four games

BOX SCORE: Drexel 77, Delaware 74, OT

Delaware (11-10 overall, 3-5 CAA) missed all seven of its shots in overtime and had two of them blocked by Amari Williams, who had five swats on the day.

An off-balance 3-point try under heavy defensive pressure from the right corner by Jameer Nelson Jr. went off the rim as time expired, sending streamers flying onto the floor as a crowd of 2,407 celebrated.

“It’s just tough having multiple chances to win,” Davis said after Delaware couldn’t complete that quest.

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It was the 165th meeting in the CAA’s oldest and most-played rivalry, which Delaware leads 85-81. The teams will play again Feb. 8 in Newark.

Drexel (12-8, 6-2) led 39-31 at the half and 49-40 with 15:10 to go. Still down seven with just under 5 minutes left, Delaware rallied to take the lead on Cavan Reilly’s 3-pointer 68-67 with 2:13 left. There were five lead changes and three ties before then end of regulation.

Nelson scored 21 and Reilly had a career-high 15 for the Hens, who didn’t have injured Ebby Asamoah or Johnny McCoy.

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Drexel shot 52 percent to Delaware’s 44 and got 21 points from Justin Moore, 19 from Luke House and 17 from Williams.