Drexel Visits Towson In Big CAA Match-Up Saturday
By Matt Leon
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – The Drexel Dragons will try to make it two straight wins, and get back to .500 in the Colonial Athletic Association, on Saturday when they visit Towson.
The Dragons are 11-9 overall, 3-4 in the CAA, after beating Hofstra up in Hempstead, New York, on Wednesday night, 77-74. The Dragons were led in that game, once again, by senior guard Frantz Massenat. He played all 40 minutes and lit up the Pride for 32 points and 9 assists, all while not committing a single turnover. It was the second incredible stat line of the month for the Trenton Catholic product. Back on January 18th against UNC-Wilmington, he finished with 30 points and 8 assists while, once again, not turning the ball over once.
"He's been playing unbelievably, he really has," Drexel head coach Bruiser Flint tells KYW Newsradio. "We've been down a little bit with our players being out. The games that he's been having, people knowing that he and Chris Fouch are the only guys that we really got out there that really score the ball, have been remarkable. He's played unbelievably fantastic the last month, since league play started."
Towson is 13-8 this season (4-2 in the CAA), and they beat the Dragons at the DAC back on January 14th, 80-68.
Bruiser Flint Interview
"They've only lost one game at home this entire year (10-1), so they play really well at home," Flint says. "It's going to be a tough battle. Benimon is probably one of the top two or three players in the league, so we know it's going to be a tough battle."
Benimon is Jerrelle Benimon, a 6'8" senior forward who averages a double-double (18.3 points and 11.6 rebounds a game). He almost had a triple-double in that first match-up with the Dragons, finishing with 27 points, 13 rebounds and 7 assists. But it should be noted, that game came when Drexel was dealing with a rash of injuries in the front court, and they played without key forwards Dartaye Ruffin, Tavon Allen and Kaz Abif. All have since returned to action. Flint breaks down how they hope to keep Benimon under control.
"Make him take tough shots, don't foul him, don't put him on the foul line," Flint says. "(Don't) put yourself in foul trouble. Now I'm subbing guys out there that may not be able to guard him. I think that's the biggest thing for him. I don't necessarily think you're going to stop him, you've just got to keep him down a little bit."
Drexel and Towson will tip-off at 4:30pm.
You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.
