MADISON, N.J. - Junior forward Lybrant Robinson scored 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting and the Drew University men's basketball team defeated the College of Saint Elizabeth 88-70 in a non-conference men's basketball tilt Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gymnasium.
The victory marked career win No. 124 at Drew for Ranger Head Coach Darryl Keckler, who became the all-time winningest coach in program history. He passes Drew Hall of Famer Harry Simester, who won 123 games from 1935-57.
Junior forward Malachi Walker, Jr. added a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Rangers (3-1), who shot 50.9% from the field and out-rebounded the Eagles 48-30. Walked also threw down four dunks and blocked three shots.
Senior guard Riley Collins contributed 12 points, six rebounds, and five assists while freshman forward Howard McBurnie, Jr. posted eight points and 11 rebounds. Sophomore guard Drew Gallagher tallied 11 points and five rebounds while junior guard Miles Lewis added eight points on 4-of-4 shooting and six rebounds, including four offensive boards. Senior guard Michael Boice chipped in with seven points and a pair of blocks.
Ted Thelemaque scored 17 points for the Eagles (3-1), who suffered their first loss of the season.
The Rangers trailed for a total of just 14 seconds in the game, and they led 19-11 with 13:04 on the first-half clock when Collins fed Lewis on a fast-break lay-up. It was still an eight-point game (26-18) with 9:53 showing before the Eagles answered with a 6-0 spurt to pull to within two.
Back-to-back 3-pointers from Robinson pushed Drew's lead back to seven (37-30), but a fast-break dunk pulled St. E's to within three with 1:40 on the clock, prompting a Ranger timeout. The hosts went on to hit a pair of big 3-pointers - one from Collins and one from Boice - to up their to nine (47-38) at the break.
Robinson led all players with 15 points at the half, when he shot 6-for-6 from the field.
Drew continued its run into the second half, outscoring the Eagles 8-0 to open up a commanding 55-38 lead. Walker started the run with a highlight-reel put-back dunk before Robinson connected twice from beyond the arc.
Saint Elizabeth would battle back, however, and whittled the deficit down to five (66-61) with 8:43 remaining. But that's when the Rangers dug in defensively, holding the Eagles scoreless over the next four minutes. In the meantime, Drew scored 12 unanswered points to put the game away.
The Rangers continue their six-game season-opening homestand when they host King's College on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in non-conference action.