MORRISTOWN, N.J. - Junior guard Riley Collins poured in a game-high 24 points and the men's basketball team rallied past Wheaton (Mass.) College 73-69 in the first round of the Larry Horner C'40 Rose City Classic Friday evening in Luing Gymnasium at the College of Saint Elizabeth.

Turning Point: The Rangers (2-0) trailed by as much as 10 early in the second half and the Lyons (2-1) led 62-57 with 5:42 remaining. But that's when Drew dug in defensively, holding Wheaton to just one field goal of the rest of the way. Collins tied the game at 62-all with his sixth and final 3-pointer of the night with 4:41 showing, and sophomore forward Malachi Walker put Drew in front to stay (64-63) with a free throw at the 4:00 mark. The Rangers clinched the game at the foul line, where they 9-for-10 over the final 2:27 and 7-for-8 in the last 30 seconds. Wheaton drew to within 69-67 with eight seconds left, but senior guard Dan Roibal knocked down a pair of big free throws one second later. The Lyons answered with a quick lay-up but junior guard Cole Hanntz hit two free throws with one tick showing to set the final score.

Top Performers: Collins netted 17 of his points in the second half to lead Drew's come-from-behind effort. He shot 9-for-16 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. It was Collins' second-straight 20-point game to open the season after dropping 23 on FDU-Florham in the team's season-opening victory this past Tuesday. Senior forward Sky Harris added nine points and seven rebounds off the bench while senior forward Nate Aldrich contributed eight points and eight rebounds to go with a pair of blocked shots. Roibal pitched in with eight points, five rebounds, and three steals.

Stat Sheet: Wheaton led 35-30 at the half, rallying from a nine-point deficit midway through the opening period. Drew shot 42.4 percent from the field, including 41.7 percent (10-for-24) from 3-point range. The Lyons outscored Drew 23-13 at the foul line, but the Ranger bench outscored Wheaton's subs 20-9. Rebounds were even at 36 apiece.

Notes: Drew advances to the championship game of the Rose City Classic for the fourth year in a row and will seek its first title since 2001...Due to structural issues in Baldwin Gymnasium related to a recent snowstorm, the men's and women's Rose City Classic tournaments were relocated, but it didn't stop a large and boisterous Drew crowd from filling the gym.

Next Up: The tournament now shifts to New Jersey City University for the final two games on Saturday. The Rangers will face the winner of Friday's night's other first-round game between Dickinson College and Washington and Lee University in the championship game at 4 p.m. while the consolation game will tip off at 2 p.m.