Fairy tales usually end with the dragon’s defeat, but today, the Quakers fell to the Dragons 60-47 in the Big 5 Classic at Wells Fargo Center.
In the second edition of the Toyota Big 5 Classic, Penn men’s basketball (3-6) lost to Drexel (6-4) — taking home sixth place in the Big 5. Drexel, a new sixth addition to the Big 5 after joining in 2023, hoped to continue its success in the tournament after beating Villanova last season, while Penn was looking for redemption after two big losses to Villanova and Saint Joseph’s earlier this season.
With the cold weather, it’s fitting that the game started with a flurry from both teams. Both the Quakers and the Dragons scored on their first possession.
It was quickly apparent that the Quakers would need to keep up with Drexel’s height and physicality after two ferocious dunks by Drexel forward Cole Hargrove in the first five minutes — both of which were on senior forward/center Nick Spinoso. However, the Quakers were kept alive by the long ball as junior guard/forward and reigning Ivy League Player of the Week Ethan Roberts and sophomore guard Sam Brown put up a three-pointer each.
Despite three turnovers by the Quakers within the first few minutes of the game, Penn remained very much in the game during a low-scoring first half. The teams went blow-for-blow, culminating in nine lead changes through the first 20 minutes.
With seconds to go in the opening half, Drexel guard Yame Butler had two free throws to send the Dragons into the locker room on top but missed both, and the game stayed notched at 30 apiece. Penn struggled on offense, finishing the half with a 39% shooting percentage from the field, while the Dragons didn’t fare much better at 44%.
To open the second half, back-to-back Quakers baskets in just over one minute of play put Penn up by four. However, that momentum was quickly lost as the Quakers scored the same amount in the next 10 minutes. In that timeframe, free throws and layups from across the Drexel roster propelled the Dragons to a lead that they maintained for the rest of the game.
“I can’t draw up everything,” Penn coach Steve Donahue said. “During that stretch, Drexel was just sure of who they were.”
With less than 12 minutes played in the second half, Hargrove already had a double-double. He ended the afternoon with a team-leading 17 points and 13 rebounds.
“He looks like an NFL tight end, and it’s because he works incredibly hard in the weight room,” Drexel coach Zach Spiker said. “His game has just continued to grow and evolve.”
This was also an important matchup for Spiker as he was formerly a volunteer assistant coach on Steve Donahue’s Cornell staff.
“I owe that man everything,” Spiker said of Donahue.
“Zach’s a great basketball coach, a better person,” Donahue said of Spiker during his postgame remarks. “His kids play with that same passion he brings, and I’m not surprised they’re a good basketball team.”
Despite last week being one to remember for Roberts — putting up 76 points in three games — this weekend was much quieter, as he went 5-for-17 from the field and finished with only 11 points. Spinoso was the one to keep the game competitive, ending the day with 21 points and 7 rebounds, both of which were good for team highs.
In the end, Drexel pulled away and took the win in the Battle of 33rd Street’s 28th rendition, defeating Penn handily. Penn now has dropped six out of its last seven games, including several by double digits.
With Ivy League play right around the corner, the Quakers hope to put this game behind them by figuring out their chemistry on offense and rekindling their momentum.
Penn men’s basketball takes on Virginia Commonwealth University on the road on Monday, with tipoff scheduled for 7 p.m. Ivy League play dawns on the horizon next month.
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