West Virginia Bounces Back with Win Over Drexel

Morgantown, WV - The West Virginia Mountaineers (4-5) bounced back Saturday evening with a 66-60 victory over the Drexel Dragons (5-5) after suffering consecutive losses in the last week. 

Drexel started the game shooting 7-13 from the field and went on an 8-0 run to grab a 15-6 lead in the first six minute of play. 

West Virginia guard Seth Wilson checked into the game and buried consecutive threes to pull the Mountaineers within three. Then, forward Pat Suemnick hit a straightaway three to cut the deficit to one 20-19 at the midway point of the first half. 

Mountaineer forward Quinn Slazinksi tied the game at 22 but guard Justin Moore scored two of his nine first half points with a tough drive through the lane to reclaim the lead. 

The Dragons led by as many as four down the stretch but held a 33-31 lead at halftime. Slazinski led all scorers with 11 and Wilson had nine points. 

West Virginia forward Josiah Harris opened the second half with a dunk and guard Kobe Johnson followed with a drive to the basket, claiming the first Mountaineer lead 35-33. 

Forward Akok Akok scored his first career Mountaineer points with a three from the top of the key, then a layup in transition after a Kobe Johnson steal on the ensuing possession to give West Virginia a six -point lead at the 14:22 mark of the second half. 

Drexel went on a 6-0 spurt to tie the game at 48.

Seth Wilson ended the Mountaineers five-minute scoring drought to reclaim the lead, 50-48. 

The Mountaineers steadily built an eight-point advantage with Josiah Harris hitting a leaner in the paint, Edwards receiving an alley-oop for Wilson, a three from Ofri Naveah and a Johnson steal leading to a layup put WVU 62-54.

Drexel cut the Mountaineer lead to four following a turnover, but a dunk by Edwards after breaking the press essentially sealed the game as Mountaineers defeated the Dragons 66-60.