KINGS POINT, N.Y. – The Drew University men's basketball team broke out to an 18-point halftime lead en route to an 85-71 non-conference victory at the United States Merchant Marine Academy Tuesday evening.
The Rangers (8-1) posted their second consecutive win heading into a 12-day holiday layoff.
Drew and Merchant Marine were meeting for the first time since Feb. 3, 2016, during the Mariners' final season as a member of the Landmark Conference. The Rangers earned their first win over USMMA since a 79-70 victory on Dec. 2, 2015 in Baldwin Gym.
Thirteen different players entered the game and 10 figured into the scoring column for the Rangers, who forced the Mariners into 24 turnovers that were converted into 34 points.
Junior guard
Eli Yusavage led Drew with 17 points and six assists while sophomore forward
Ben Manns tossed in a career-high 14 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including 3-for-3 marksmanship from beyond the arc. Senior forward
David Musial recorded eight points, eight rebounds, and six steals – one shy of the school record – while senior forward
Kevin Cronin grabbed a career-high 10 rebounds. Junior guard
Andre De Los Reyes, junior guard
Charlie Thornton, freshman guard
Erik Porch, and sophomore guard
Marc Herasme added nine points each.
The Rangers broke open the game with a 13-1 run late in the first half that put the visitors up 34-19 with 3:33 remaining in the period. Yusavage scored seven points during the burst, which included a conventional 3-point play from Thornton and was capped by a triple from Manns, who also ended the half with an old-fashioned 3-point play.
Drew saw its lead balloon to 28 on two occasions early in the second half, the final time coming on a layup from junior guard
Taylor Perlmutter that made it 60-32 with 15:15 left. The Mariners cut the deficit to 17 midway through the half, only to see the Rangers push the lead back to 26 (80-54) on a trey from Manns with 4:51 to go. Merchant Marine rallied once again, however, drawing to within 80-67 with 2:00 showing but that's as close as the hosts would get.
The Rangers continue their season on Monday, Dec. 29, when they take on Lancaster Bible College at 2 p.m. in the first round of the Franklin & Marshall College Holiday Tournament.
