EWING, N.J. — Junior forward Howard McBurnie, Jr. posted an outstanding all-around performance to lead the Drew University men's basketball team to a 73-68 victory over York (Pa.) College in the first round of the The College of New Jersey Tip-Off Tournament Friday evening.

The Rangers (1-1) earned their first victory of the season and will now face TCNJ in the championship game on Saturday at 5 p.m.

McBurnie made an impact all over the court with 21 points and 13 rebounds to go with career-highs of six steals and four blocked shots. 

Drew struggled offensively early on and fell behind 8-0 four minutes into the game but chipped away to take the lead (19-18) on a McBurnie 3-pointer with 7:55 left in the opening half. The Spartans (1-1) tied it twice over the remainder of the half, but Drew scored the last five points of the period on a 3-pointer from sophomore guard Malcolm Newman and a jumper from senior guard David Gervase to go up 39-32 at the intermission.

The Blue and Green extended their lead to nine early in the second half and pushed their advantage all the way to 12 (60-48) on a fastbreak jumper from Gervase with 8:42 left. However, York refused to go quietly and came all the way back to take the lead (67-65) with 3:45 to go following a 19-5 run. The Spartans took a 68-67 lead on a free throw with 2:40 left but it would prove to be York's final point, as the Rangers induced four missed shots and a pair of turnovers the rest of the way.

Gervase put the Ranges in front to stay with a pair of free throws that made 69-68 with 1:41 remaining. Newman connected on a pair at the stripe to make it 71-68 with 1:19 to go before the Spartans missed a 3-pointer that McBurnie rebounded. After the Rangers turned it over, senior guard Drew Gallagher sealed it in the closing seconds for Drew, coming up with a steal before sinking a pair of foul shots to set the final score.

Senior guard Lybrant Robinson netted 13 points to go with six rebounds for the Rangers while Gervase posted 11 points. Junior forward Michael Kane notched seven points and seven rebounds, including six on the offensive glass, while Newman also finished with seven points.