Consecutive back door lay-ups by Gerard Mullin and Chris Lopez gave the Rangers a 13-7 lead just under the 12:00 mark as both teams started slowly. FDU responded with a 7-0 run keyed by two James McClendon lay-ups and a Cody Chalmers three. The teams remained close throughout the first half with Sam Taub converting an old fashioned three point play at 6:34 to put the Rangers up 19-16. Tied at 25-25 with less than two minutes in the half, Drew finished the opening period with a 4-0 run to go into the break with a 29-25 lead. Bob Carella led the Rangers with six points and six rebounds.
The game remained a defensive struggle in the second half as neither team could gain much of an advantage and Drew held its four point lead past the 14 minute mark, 35-31. The Rangers eventually shook off the rust and used a Chris Lopez three to go up 45-38 with seven left on the clock. FDU cut the lead to three with two minutes on a Frank Emslie three point play and then to one after a Matt Cushing steal and lay-up. At 52-51, Drew worked an inbound play for a lay-up by Carella and a three point lead into the final minute. After working deep into the play clock after a FDU turnover, Sam Taub fed Carella for a clutch three with 45 seconds. Pierre Schmitt hit a turnaround to make it 57-53 at the 30 second mark. Damon DiLorenzo hit two free throws before Schmitt replied with another lay-up. Andrew Biancosino of FDU and Lopez traded foul shots to draw the score to 59-56 with 13.9 left. The Devils had a chance to tie the score with a three, but Damon DiLorenzo got a piece of Matt Cushing’s attempt to secure the win for the Rangers.
The win gave Drew its first men’s and women’s sweep of FDU since Feb. 17th 2004. The Rangers will look to build on the win on Saturday as they travel to Wilkes.
FDU Devils vs Drew University Rangers 01/17/06 8:00 at Baldwin Gym At Baldwin Gym DREW UNIVERSITY RANGERS 62, FDU DEVILS 56 FDU DEVILS (4-11(1-4 Freedo)) Pierre Schmitt 6-12 2-4 14; Matt Cushing 3-5 2-4 10; Frank Emslie 3-12 3-3 9; Brian Rimol 2-6 2-4 6; James McClendon 2-2 1-2 5; Andrew Biancosino 1-4 1-2 3; Brian Dillon 1-2 1-2 3; Cody Chalmers 1-1 0-0 3; Nate Lawrence 1-7 0-0 3; Nick Shaw 0-1 0-2 0; Ryan McPherson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-53 12-23 56. DREW UNIVERSITY RANGERS (7-9 (2-3 Freedo)) Chris Lopez 3-12 5-6 13; Sam Taub 6-15 1-1 13; Bob Carella 4-8 1-2 11; Damon DiLorenzo 2-3 2-2 6; Gerard Mullin 3-8 0-0 6; Abdul Jalloh 1-4 4-6 6; Steve Natoli 2-3 0-0 5; David Cramer 1-5 0-0 2; Dave Pepperman 0-1 0-0 0; Mike Amalfie 0-1 0-0 0; Bill Marano 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 22-61 13-17 62. FDU Devils.................... 25 31 - 56 Drew University Rangers....... 29 33 - 62 3-point goals-FDU Devils 4-17 (Matt Cushing 2-4; Nate Lawrence 1-7; Cody Chalmers 1-1; Frank Emslie 0-5), Drew University Rangers 5-21 (Bob Carella 2-4; Chris Lopez 2-8; Steve Natoli 1-2; Gerard Mullin 0-2; Abdul Jalloh 0-3; Bill Marano 0-1; Damon DiLorenzo 0-1). Fouled out--FDU Devils-None, Drew University Rangers-None. Rebounds-FDU Devils 37 (Pierre Schmitt 8), Drew University Rangers 43 (Bob Carella 11). Assists-FDU Devils 8 (Nick Shaw 3), Drew University Rangers 12 (Chris Lopez 3; Bob Carella 3; Damon DiLorenzo 3). Total fouls-FDU Devils 20, Drew University Rangers 21. A-200