Men's College Basketball
Drexel University 71, Rider University 67 (OT)
PHILADELPHIA, PA-- Sophomore guard Chris Fouch scored 27 points off the bench, including the game-winning three-pointer, to lead Drexel to an overtime victory over Rider Saturday afternoon. "It is disappointing to lose such a hard-fought game," said Rider head coach Tommy Dempsey. "My team deserves a lot of credit for the way they came in here and fought, fought back from several deficits."
Fouch made a three-point field goal with 30 seconds left in overtime to give Drexel a 69-67 lead, and made two free throws with 4.7 seconds left for the final score. "He had a great game and stepped up and made a big shot at the end," Dempsey said of Fouch. "We made it hard on him and we made him work for it. He delivered. Give him credit. He got his team to win with a great shot."
Besides Fouch, free throws are also what did Rider in, as the Broncs made just 9 of 20 from the foul line. "We missed a lot of free throws," Dempsey said. "It is tough to overcome that. We did a lot of things well but we didn't quite do enough but it was a good fight. Both teams spilled their guts out there today."
Rider (6-5) out-scored Drexel 6-1 over the last 1:50 of regulation, four points by senior Justin Robinson (London, England/Blair Academy), to tie the score at 63-63, sending the contest into overtime. Robinson finished with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists.
Thomas Wolfe said "you can't go home again." Junior Brandon Penn (Philadelphia, Pa./Paul Robeson) and senior Mike Ringgold (Philadelphia, Pa./Roman Catholic) might disagree. The pair returned to the City of Brotherly Love and combined for 33 points, with Penn grabbing seven rebounds. Junior Novar Gadson (Philadelphia, Pa./John Bartram) added nine points and seven rebounds with a career-high four blocks.
"You always want to get one (a win) when you get back home," Ringgold said of playing in Philly again. "We get another chance when we come back and play La Salle (December 22) but I really wanted this one."
Rider scored the first four points of overtime, a layup by Ringgold and a tip in from Penn, to give Rider its first lead since the Broncs led 26-25 in the first half.
"We try to run our offense through Mike," Dempsey said. "He has earned that right over the years." Ringgold now has 1,125 career points, 25th most ever at Rider. "He's a great player and we'd be foolish not to try to work it in to him."
"Drexel is a great defensive team," Ringgold said. "They did a great job of sliding their feet and getting their body into me. I need to do a better job."
With the score tied at 51-51, Drexel went on a 7-0 run, six points by Samme Givens, to take a 58-51 lead with 7:30 left in the second half. Givens finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds, both game-highs.
It is said that if you are born in the Year of the Dragon you will grow up to be healthy, wealthy and wise. After the way Drexel played Saturday this could be the Year of the Dragon. Drexel has now won four in a row and begins the season 6-1.
Trailing 18-8, Drexel went on a 17-6 run, 13 points by Fouch, to take its first lead of the game, 25-24, and the Dragons led 32-31 at the half.
Rider jumped out to an 11-2 lead in the first four minutes of the game, five points by Penn, who had 14 points at the half. "It helps out a lot when I get off to a good start," Penn said. "I just try to take the shots that are there for me."
The Broncs and Dragons are former East Coast Conference rivals. Rider and Drexel have now played 55 times with Drexel holding a slight 29-26 advantage in the series that began in 1956-57.
Drexel won the last meeting by six points during the 2008-09 season and won by seven points in Philadelphia in 2007-08. Rider won in overtime by eight points in 2006-07 in Alumni Gym.
Rider returns home to host Monmouth Wednesday.
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