TAMPA BAY, Fla. (December 29, 2013) – After a 17-day layoff, the Drew University men's basketball team fell to DePauw University, 68-64 in the opening game of the Tampa Bay Shootout this evening. The Tigers were powered by a game-high 24 points from Michael Wilkison.
The Rangers could not get over the hump and trailed the entire contest. DePauw made a run in the closing minutes of the second half that was just enough to hold on, improving their overall record to 6-3 on the season. The Rangers have now dropped four of their last five games and fall to 4-5 on the season.
Sophomore Mike Klinger (Franklin Park, N.J./Rutgers Prep) led the way for the Rangers, scoring a team-high 23 points. Classmate Jason Huelbig (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) poured in a career-high 20 points with 11 coming in the first half. Senior John Ford (Holbrook, N.Y./Sachem North) was perfect from the field, going 4-for-4 to add 12 points.
Holding a single-digit lead for the most of the second half, the Tigers scored seven-straight points and took a 65-53 lead with 2:30 remaining in the game. The lead was the largest since the four minute mark in the first half. The Rangers worked furiously over the final minutes and narrowed the lead down to three on a jumper by Klinger with seven ticks left on the clock. A made free throw by Pat Haggin sealed a two-possession game and the victory for the Tigers with six seconds left in the game.
The Rangers were excellent in the closing minutes of each half. The Tigers held a 38-34 advantage at halftime after grabbing a 13-point lead with 4:05 remaining in the first frame. The Rangers finished off the first half on a 14-5 run.
DePauw won the battle of the boards, 43-29 including 18 rebounds on the offensive end. The Rangers committed 12 turnovers compared to 11 by the Tigers. Wilkison was a huge deep threat for the Tigers, sinking a game-high, six three-pointers. Haggin and Tommy Fernitz rounded out the DePauw double-digit scorers with 14 points and 15 points respectively.
The Rangers are now 0-3 all-time against DePauw and 2-4 all-time competing in the state of Florida. The two teams met five years ago to the day with DePauw coming away with a 76-56 victory.
The Rangers will take on the either Regis College or Kalamazoo tomorrow in the third place game at 1:00 p.m. At the conclusion of Monday's championship game, tournament officials will announce an All-Tournament Team.