MADISON, N.J.—The University of Scranton's once comfortable three-game lead in the Landmark Conference standings is down to one after today's 90-82 loss to Drew University at Baldwin Gymnasium.

The high-flying Rangers, winners of seven straight and no longer the conference doormat, are just one game out of first place after junior guard Asmar Capers (Bridgewater, N.J./Bridgewater Raritan) tossed in a game-high 30 point and pulled down 10 rebounds, this coming less than 24 hours after playing 54 minutes and scoring 29 points in Drew's 99-96 victory in triple overtime against Moravian College Friday evening. 

The Rangers, who won just four games two years ago and only seven last year, are now 11-9 overall and 6-3 in the conference.

Scranton, looking for a much-needed split after last night's 86-66 loss at Merchant Marine Academy, got its usual balanced scoring from senior guard Zach Ashworth (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks West) with 20 points and 19 from sophomore point-guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and senior guard Luke Hawk (Audubon, Pa./Methacton).  The Royals, now 14-4 overall and 7-2 in the conference, also received 11 from junior forward Matt Swaback (Kingston, Pa./Wyoming Seminary).

Capers got plenty of help today, too.  Senior guard Mike Mayes (Linden, N.J./St. Mary's) finished with 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists and sophomore guard Terrell Brown (Camden, N.J./Woodrow Wilson) and sophomore forward Luke Mullaney (Lebanon, N.J./North Hunterdon) tossed in 11 points apiece.

Early on, the Royals took advantage of Drew's marathon game against Moravian last night by pushing the tempo en route to opening up an 11-point lead.  Ashworth, Farrell and Hawk combined for 34 points as Scranton shot 55.2 percent from the field to settle for a 47-41 halftime lead.  Capers kept the Rangers within striking distance with 17 points in the opening 20 minutes of play.

As the game seesawed back and forth in the second half, Capers delivered the key blow when he nailed a 3-pointer with 38 seconds remaining to break an 82-82 tie and ignite an 8-0 run that set the final score.  The Royals missed two 3-pointers after that and Mayes and Brown sandwiched free throws around the Scranton misses to seal the victory.

The Rangers shot nearly 52 percent from the field in the second half, including nearly 55 percent from the 3-point arc, while the Royals cooled off considerably, shooting less than 42 percent in the final 20 minutes of play.  Scranton, uncharacteristically, also missed 10 of 25 free throw attempts (60 percent).

The Royals will open a two-game Landmark Conference home stand on Friday, February 4, against the Gophers of Goucher College beginning at 7:30 p.m. in the Long Center.  On Saturday,  Scranton will host Catholic University at 4:00 p.m.

News & Notes:  Drew scored its first win over Scranton since a 53-51 victory at the Baldwin Gymnasium on January 28, 2006…the Royals lead the all-time series, 46-9…Ashworth finished with eight rebounds and two steals in 34 minutes of action…Ashworth also went over the 1600-point mark today (1603) and is five points shy of moving ahead of Charles Nanick (1,607 points, 1993-1997) into 11th place on the Royals' all-time scoring list.
 
Newspaper Box Score
DREW 90, SCRANTON 82

SCRANTON (14-4/7-2 Landmark)
Zach Ashworth 8-16 1-3 20; Luke Hawk 6-14 7-12 19; Travis Farrell 7-10 4-5 19; Matt Swaback 4-6 0-1 11; Tim Lavelle 1-5 2-2 5; Tommy Morgan 2-5 0-0 4; Andrew Wynne 1-2 0-0 3; Dan Hilferty 0-1 1-2 1; Edmond O'Connell 0-0 0-0 0; Michael Barr 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 29-60 15-25 82.

DREW (11-9/6-3 Landmark)
Asmar Capers 9-17 8-10 30; Mike Mayes 6-12 5-10 17; Luke Mullaney 4-5 2-2 11; Terrell Brown 4-7 3-3 11; Kyle Joyce 3-5 0-0 8; Dara McKeon 2-6 0-0 5; McNeil Wrice 2-2 0-0 4; Bobby Falconiero 1-2 0-0 2; Dylan Bulger 1-6 0-0 2; Conor Dow 0-0 0-0 0; Lucas Levenson 0-2 0-0 0; John Ford 0-0 0-0 0; Evan Elberg 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-64 18-25 90.

The University of Scranton....   47   35  -   82
Drew..........................   41   49  -   90

3-point goals--The University of Scranton 9-28 (Zach Ashworth 3-9; Matt Swaback 3-4; Tim Lavelle 1-4; Travis Farrell 1-3; Andrew Wynne 1-1; Michael Barr 0-1; Dan Hilferty 0-1; Tommy Morgan 0-2; Luke Hawk 0-3), Drew 8-16 (Asmar Capers 4-6; Kyle Joyce 2-3; Luke Mullaney 1-1; Dara McKeon 1-4; Mike Mayes 0-2). Fouled out--The University of Scranton-Tommy Morgan, Drew-None. Rebounds--The University of Scranton 39 (Zach Ashworth 8; Luke Hawk 8), Drew 34 (Asmar Capers 10). Assists--The University of Scranton 13 (Travis Farrell 3; Tim Lavelle 3), Drew 16 (Mike Mayes 5). Total fouls--The University of Scranton 23, Drew 20. Technical fouls--The University of Scranton-None, Drew-None. A-446