Rangers Force OT, Defeat Rival FDU

Box Score
MADISON, N.J. (December 8, 2010) - For the second-straight season the Battle of Madison Ave. would require an extra five minutes in which the Rangers were able to prevail once again over rival Fairleigh Dickinson, 78-68. Senior Mike Mayes (Linden, N.J./St. Mary's) was able to notch the game at 64 just before time expired in regulation.

After trailing the majority of the game, Fairleigh Dickinson (2-7) captured their first lead at the 14:20 mark in the second half and would not relinquish it until the final five minutes of play. After tying the game twice, the Rangers, would find themselves down four points after two Devil free throws with 19 seconds to play. Freshman Luke Glass (Rumson, N.J./Rumson-Fair Haven) drove down the right side of the lane and hit a running one-handed jumper in the lane to make the score 64-62.

Drew (3-4), was forced to foul on the ensuing possession putting FDU's Koko Karajelian on the free throw line for two shots with six seconds remaining in the game. Karajelian missed the first freebee ensuring the Rangers at least a chance for the tie. The freshman Karjelian, who hadn't attempted a free throw since the opening minutes of the ball game, missed the second free throw opening the door for the Rangers to tie the ball game with just a two.

Sophomore Terrell Brown (Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) snagged the rebound and outleted the ball to Mayes who sprinted down the right side of the court. The senior gained a step on the defender just before the three-point line and exploded toward the hoop, freeing himself for an uncontested layup that would tie the game at 64 with just one second remaining on the clock.

The split crowd of over 700 fans was in utter disbelief, with the Drew section in a frenzy. The momentum had clearly shifted towards in the direction the Rangers and with two devils disqualified, including their leading scorer, the game was Drew's to win.

Mayes spilled his clutch effort of the final minutes of regulation into overtime, scoring four more points on free throws and dishing, in what looked to be the tone-setter for the remainder of the game, to Dylan Bulger (Staten Island, N.Y./Staten Island Academy) in the opening minutes of the extra frame. From that point forward the Rangers applied heavy pressure to the Fairleigh Dickinson offense, forcing four turnovers and not allowing a made shot from the field in the final five minutes. In the end Drew was able to outscore the Devils 14-4 in overtime to close the book on another doozey of a game in the storied rivalry.

Bulger had a career night and was a mismatch for whatever Devil defender was assigned to him. He finished with a career-high 20 points and 14 rebounds. Brown was also a key figure in the overtime period tallying six points and going 2-for-3 from the free throw line. The sophomore poured in 12 points to go along with six rebounds and a team-high four steals.

The men completed the winter sweep of the cross-street rival with the win as the Rangers improve to 8-0 against the Devils in all sports combined this year.

Drew will return to action on Saturday when they welcome the College of Staten Island to Baldwin Gym for a 4:00 tipoff.