Daytona Beach, Fla.-Drew left it late again, but, just like yesterday’s game against Union (N.Y.), the Rangers rallied from a double digit deficit in the second half to defeat Hiram, 71-68, at the Amerisport International Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. Abdul Jalloh scored a career-high 13 points while Chris Lopez added 12. AJ White led the Terriers with 15 points in a game in which the lead changed hands 11 times.
Hiram led by 12 points with 10:20 remaining in the game, but Drew went on a 14-2 run to knot the game at 59-59 with 5:08 on the clock. Sparked by Jalloh, who had 9 points, a block and an assist in the run, the Rangers took their first lead of the game 63-62 on a jumper by Sam Taub. The score was tied three times and the lead changed hands five times in the final five minutes of the game with Drew gaining the advantage for good on a Damon DiLorenzo lay-up with two minutes remaining. DiLorenzo, who scored 11 points on the day, scored another bucket to put Drew up 69-66. The Terriers drew within one on a lay-up before putting Lopez on the line with 18 seconds left. Though Lopez missed the free throw Sam Taub was there with the put back to give the Rangers the 71-68 advantage.
Jalloh, who was appearing in just his second game of the season, keyed the Drew comeback scoring 11 points in the second half alone on 4-5 shooting and a perfect 3-3 from behind the arc. The Drew bench was a huge factor in the win as it outscored Hiram’s reserves 35-8. Seven Rangers came off the bench to score led by Jalloh’s 13 and Taub’s nine. Bob Carella pulled 15 rebounds while adding seven points in the game.
For Drew the victory capped a strong performance at the Amerisport Land of Magic Classic. The Rangers evened their record at 5-5 on the year while Hiram fell to 3-7.
Newspaper Box Score Hiram (Ohio) vs Drew (N.J.) 12-29-05 11 a.m. at Daytona Beach, Fla. (ICI Center) At Daytona Beach, Fla. (ICI Center) DREW (N.J.) 71, HIRAM (OHIO) 68 HIRAM (OHIO) (3-7) AJ White 4-12 6-8 15; Rick Baldwin 5-12 2-2 13; TC Spencer 5-8 2-4 12; Brandon Pool 3-12 4-4 12; Michael McDevitt 2-7 4-6 8; Emeka Mbanefo 3-6 0-0 6; Ian Pfouts 0-1 1-2 1. Totals 22-58 20-28 68. DREW (N.J.) (5-5) Abdul Jalloh 5-8 0-0 13; Chris Lopez 5-13 0-1 12; Damon DiLorenzo 5-7 0-0 11; Sam Taub 4-10 1-2 9; Bob Carella 3-12 0-0 7; Mike Amalfie 2-3 0-0 4; Bill Marano 1-2 0-0 3; Dave Pepperman 1-1 1-2 3; Gerard Mullin 1-4 0-0 3; David Cramer 1-6 0-0 3; Dennis Mayes 1-2 0-0 2; Steve Natoli 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-69 3-7 71. Hiram (Ohio).................. 36 32 - 68 Drew (N.J.)................... 32 39 - 71 3-point goals-Hiram (Ohio) 4-16 (Brandon Pool 2-3; Rick Baldwin 1-4; AJ White 1-7; Emeka Mbanefo 0-1; Michael McDevitt 0-1), Drew (N.J.) 10-24 (Abdul Jalloh 3-5; Chris Lopez 2-5; Damon DiLorenzo 1-2; Bob Carella 1-3; David Cramer 1-4; Gerard Mullin 1-3; Bill Marano 1-2). Fouled out--Hiram (Ohio)-None, Drew (N.J.)-None. Rebounds-Hiram (Ohio) 43 (AJ White 9), Drew (N.J.) 45 (Bob Carella 15). Assists-Hiram (Ohio) 12 (Brandon Pool 4), Drew (N.J.) 13 (Sam Taub 3). Total fouls-Hiram (Ohio) 16, Drew (N.J.) 20. A-57