MADISON, N.J. (Feb. 18, 2015) – The Drew University men's basketball team took care of its end of business in the Landmark Conference playoff hunt, beating Elizabethtown College, 79-61, on Wednesday night in Baldwin Gymnasium in the 2014-15 regular season finale.
 
The Rangers (12-13, 7-9) received some help elsewhere in the conference with Juniata College and The United States Merchant Marine Academy both dropping contests at home on Wednesday. Drew will become spectators on Saturday, needing Susquehanna University to beat Elizabethtown (8-15, 6-9) to give the Rangers the fourth and final Landmark Conference playoff berth.
 
Junior guard Kevin Herring II led four Rangers in double-digits with 20 points (7-of-14) on the strength of six 3-pointers. Junior forward Jason Huelbig finished with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and added six rebounds and three assists, while junior swingman Ozan Yucetepe strung together a solid stat line of 10 points, six boards, and four assists.
 
Junior center Kevin-Michael Miller recorded a career-high six blocks in the victory, tied for the fifth most in a single game in Rangers' history. He added nine points and eight rebounds.
 
Senior guard Steve Hydzik most likely played his final game on the Baldwin Gym hardwood, and will join his teammates on Saturday as they learn their playoff fate.
 
"It's going to be nerve-racking," Hydzik said. "It will be the first time I have to do that, and it will be weird rooting so hard for another team in the Landmark, especially one that just beat us a week ago."
 
For Hydzik and the senior class, the goal on Wednesday was to focus on what they could control, and to take a glimpse at the out-of-town scoreboard only after their job was done.
 
"We knew we needed these last couple of wins, but it wasn't falling," the senior captain said. "Tonight was a little different. We just wanted to come out and set the tone for a good basketball game. Shots were falling and we played great defense. It was a little weird walking off the court. We got a little better each year and I definitely did not walk off the floor disappointed or with any regrets. I can speak for all the seniors that we came in, worked hard at every practice, and put our best out there."
 
The tone was set early by shutdown defense and solid shooting from the floor. The Rangers used an early 6-1 run and a 7-0 run midway through the half to take a 26-18 lead. The 7-0 run was highlighted by one of Herring's triples and three straight freebies made by junior guard Brian McLaughlin after getting fouled on a shot beyond the arc.
 
Herring's range and Huelbig's dominating presence in the offensive paint helped Drew take a 41-29 lead into halftime.
 
That same recipe helped the Rangers keep the foot on the gas to start the second half on a 13-6 run and a three-pointer by junior guard Mike Klinger with 12:48 left gave Drew a 20-point lead at 57-37. The defense again took over as the Blue Jays managed just one field goal over the next four minutes of play as Drew led 64-41 with 8:15 to play.
 
Confident rebounding and more stifling defense allowed the Rangers to coast to the victory in the season finale, setting up a nerve-racking viewing party on Saturday.
 
Drew shot 56 percent from the floor while holding Elizabethtown to 36 percent. The Rangers won the rebounding battle 38-30, while gaining an edge in paint points, 30-24.
 
The Landmark Conference semifinals are scheduled at the homes of the highest seeds on Wednesday, Feb. 25. The Catholic University of America (21-3, 15-0) has clinched the No. 1 seed.