Drexel burned by Norfolk State, 61-56

It turns out Drexel's early-season trip to the Virgin Islands may not turn out to be so sunny.

The Dragons were stunned Friday by Norfolk State, 61-56, in the first round of the Paradise Jam in St. Thomas.

Drexel (1-1) turned a 10-point halftime deficit into a one-point lead early in the second half, but its comeback was met by a 13-1 run by the Spartans (2-1).

The Dragons will play Virginia today in a losers' bracket game at 3:30 p.m. The Cavaliers lost to Texas Christian in another first-round game on Friday.

"I was real disappointed in the way we played today," said Bruiser Flint, Drexel's head coach. "We didn't take care of the ball, and every time we had a chance to get back in the game we turned it over or couldn't come up with the loose ball.

"Norfolk State played well today. They did a good job controlling the glass and limiting our second chances."

Drexel, predicted to finish first in the Colonial Athletic Association in a preseason poll of the league's coaches, was held to 39 percent shooting and looked out of sync from the start. It took the Dragons over six minutes to register their first point and over seven to make their first field goal.

After Norfolk State took an 11-point lead in the second half, Drexel chipped away and cut the lead six with 2 minutes, 25 seconds to play after freshman forward Kazembe Abif made two free throws. Drexel made two stops in a row on the defensive end, but could not convert.

Freshman guard Damion Lee led the Dragons with 21 points on 9-for-16 shooting from the field, including 3 for 6 from three-point range. The Spartans were better on the boards by 36-29.

Chris McEachin scored 15 points, and Kyle O'Quinn had 11 points, 12 rebounds, and 6 blocks to lead Norfolk State, which plays Texas Christian at 6 p.m. Saturday.