TOWSON, Md. (Dec. 6, 2014) – In a back-and-forth Landmark Conference battle, the veteran-laden Drew University men's basketball team utilized its maturity and composure to outlast Goucher College, 90-83, in overtime in league action on Saturday evening.
 
Junior guard Kevin Herring II led all scorers with 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting, including a 5-of-8 mark from beyond the arc. The three-point field goal execution was crucial to the Rangers (5-2, 2-0 Landmark Conference), both in getting back into the game after trailing by as much as 15 in the first half, and staying in the game before eventually pulling away in the extra period. Junior guard Mike Klinger also netted five from long range to help account for his 25 points. As a team the Rangers nailed down 14 three-pointers, the sixth most in a single game in school history and the second straight game they have achieved that mark.
 
The conference clash featured 13 ties and 12 lead changes throughout 45 minutes on the hardwood at Goucher (1-6, 1-1), but it was the final run in overtime that made the difference. The Rangers were 4-of-4 from the field, including 3-of-3 from downtown, and made 8-of-10 free throws in overtime to take the lead for good. The spurt was led by Klinger, who started overtime with his fifth trey of the contest to give Drew the 74-71 lead. After the Gophers responded with a three-pointer of their own, junior swingman Ozan Yucetepe put Drew back in the lead with a long ball with 3:59 to play in overtime. Senior guard Steve Hydzik made his only three-pointer of the evening at an opportune time; it was Drew's 14^th of the night and it put the road squad in the lead 81-75 with 2:39 to go. Stellar free throw shooting by Klinger and junior forward Jason Huelbig closed out the victory.
 
The first half featured two monumental runs that ended up balancing out and sending both sides to the locker rooms separated by just one point, despite each team having their stint looking like the dominant squad on Saturday night. Goucher had the upper hand early, leading by six at the midway point of the first half before going on an 8-0 run to take a comfortable 37-23 lead with seven minutes to play in the opening half.
 
Drew responded with a furious 17-2 run to end the first half, paced by eight points from Herring. The junior stuffed the stat sheet on Saturday with seven rebounds, four assists and a steal.
 
The Rangers relied on their press defense and a successful 2-3 zone as the see-saw titled back-and-forth in the second half. Drew's shooting percentages dipped in the second period (9-of-27 FG, 5-of-17 three-pointers), but the defense forced tough shots by the Gophers especially from the perimeter. Goucher committed 13 turnovers in the second half, compared the Drew's three.
 
The largest lead by Drew in the second half was at 4:43 remaining, when a Yucetepe three-pointer gave the Rangers a 69-63 lead. Goucher responded a few minutes later with a 5-0 run to take a 71-70 lead with just 34 seconds left on the clock. Junior guard Brian McLaughlin made a pressure-packed free throw with 30 seconds left to tie the game. Goucher had a chance to take the last shot and end the game, but Herring came up with the steal as the time ran out on regulation.
 
Goucher held significant advantages in points in the paint (44-20), rebounds (40-32), and bench points (44-10). The difference for Drew came via what has become its trademark early during the 2014-15 season; high shooting percentages and prolific precision from beyond the arc.
 
Drew returns to the hardwood on the road on Tuesday, Dec. 9 at 8:00 p.m. for the Battle of Madison Ave. at FDU-Florham.