Drexel basketball team hoping third time’s the charm against Charleston in CAA quarterfinals

They say it’s hard to beat a team three times. It’s also hard to lose two games in two days to one opponent after having a halftime lead in each game.

Drexel coach Zach Spiker doesn’t like watching those game films from early January. He recalls how upset he was after the road losses to College of Charleston, but he has to watch them. The Dragons (9-7, 4-5 Colonial Athletic Conference) will meet Charleston (9-9, 6-4) in the quarterfinals of the CAA tournament on Sunday at 9:30 p.m. The tournament will be played at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.

“Thank you for bringing that up,” Spiker said sarcastically when reminded of having halftime leads in both games.

The two schools played on Jan. 9 and 10 when Drexel led by five and 10 points, respectively, after the first halves. The Cougars outscored the Dragons a combined 74-53 in those second halves.

“I think we’re ready for them now,” guard Camren Wynter said. “We let two slip away, and we just want to go get one back.”

Charleston won the first game, 61-60, and Wynter scored a season-low four points. But the second game is the one Spiker and Wynter remembered most. The Dragons were outscored, 44-29, after the Cougars switched to a zone defense.

The result was surprising because Drexel has had its way with many zones over the last two seasons. Charleston sapped the Dragons of all momentum. Drexel went from shooting 56.5% in the first half to 35.7% in the second.

“It caught us off guard,” Wynter said. “Even with all that, I think we still got some good looks. I think we might have set a record for airballs that game.”

Drexel was the tournament’s eighth seed last year and won one game before being beaten by top-seeded Hofstra. Now as the sixth seed, the Dragons got a bye for the first day.

Charleston is led by second-team All-CAA guard Zep Jasper, who also is on the all-defensive team. He is averaging a team-high 14.9 points. His backcourt mate, Payton Willis, has been almost as dangerous, averaging 12.9 points and shooting 40.7% from three.

But it was the Cougars’ third-leading scorer, Brenden Tucker, who erupted for 35 points out of nowhere in the second meeting with Drexel.

Wynter, James Butler, and Zach Walton lead the group of Dragons who have played big minutes in the CAA tournament. Freshman Xavier Bell has developed into a nice weapon alongside Wynter. His growth allowed Mate Okros to come off the bench. That move has strengthened what was regarded as one of the Dragons’ biggest weaknesses.

T.J. Bickerstaff has gone from averaging 4.8 points as a freshman to 11.2 points this season.

“He’s like a sponge,” Wynter said. “He’s been learning all year and taking coaching the right way.”

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Wynter was named to the All-CAA first team and Butler made the league’s third team.

In his three seasons, Wynter has progressed from CAA rookie of the year to All-CAA second team and now the first team. He is tied for fourth in the CAA with 17.6 points per game and tied for the league-high in assists (5.6 per game).

“It’s great, but I don’t really look too much into individual stats,” Wynter said.

Butler made the third team for a second consecutive season. He’s averaging 13.4 points and 9.1 rebounds.

Zach Spiker and his wife Jennifer have fulfilled the pledge they made last summer to make a significant contribution to Drexel’s Center for Black Culture. One of the initiatives of the CBC is to celebrate the depth of Black customs, traditions, experiences, and contributions.

In his statement, Spiker encouraged coaches in Philadelphia and around the country to take action.

“We wanted to help make a difference,” he said. We’re honored that we’re able to do it. I don’t know if this is huge action, but it’s more action than just sitting and talking.”

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