ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. – Elizabethtown started hot and stayed hot, shooting a season-best 63.5% overall and 62.5% from 3-point range to run past Drew 97-76 Wednesday evening at Thompson Gymnasium. Tyler Simpkiss and Matt Lapkowicz had career nights, as the former tied his career-high with 30 points, while the latter established a new high with 19.
For the second time in four days, Simpkiss simply wouldn't be denied. He dropped 27 in a 72-66 win over Moravian Saturday, but against the Rangers (8-7, 4-3 Landmark), he was even better.
The Dover, Delaware native made all eight of his shots from the floor in the first half, including four 3-pointers, leading Elizabethtown (6-9, 4-3 Landmark) to a 50-40 halftime lead. It was the Blue Jays' first 50-point first half since going for 53 in a 98-72 win over Penn State Schuylkill back on Nov. 16.
Simpkiss had plenty of help from his supporting cast against Drew. Lapkowicz, making his second career start, connected on a trio of 3-pointers and scored 11 points going into the half. Lee Eckert had six, with Phil Wenger and Kyle McGee adding four each.
E-town would build its lead to 17 points, 43-26, with 5:40 to play in the opening period following a 19-4 run in 6:30. At one point during the run, the Blue Jays scored 14 unanswered points.
The deficit didn't put the Rangers down for good, though. Drew, the Landmark's leading 3-point shooting team, hit two of them on back-to-back possessions with Jason Huelbig and Mike Klinger doing the honors, quickly trimming E-town's lead to 11 with 4:10 to go in the first.
After shooting 67.7% (21-of-31) and 7-of-11 from three, Elizabethtown could not afford a steep regression in the second. Seniors Wenger, Eckert and Simpkiss ensured that wouldn't happen. They made the first three shots of the second half for the hosts and Josh Eden canned a long jumper to push Elizabethtown's lead back to 15, 58-43, with 17:49 to play.
Drew had one run left, as Brian McLaughlin scored six of his team's eight points to cut a 17-point disadvantage to nine at the 7:47 mark. But like they did seemingly all evening, the Jays answered. Eckert knocked down a jumper and Evan Hathaway sliced his way to the basket for a layup and the foul, giving E-town an 81-68 lead with 6:10 left.
Simpkiss previously scored 30 points against Widener on Dec. 4, 2013. He made his first nine shots Wednesday en route to a 12-of-16 effort (5-of-5 3FG). He also had five boards, a block and an assist.
Lapkowicz finished 7-of-14 for 19 points. Eckert had 12.
Elizabethtown's victory, it's eighth in 10 all-time tries against Drew, was truly a team win. Nine different players got on the scoreboard and 10 had at least one rebound, as the Blue Jays were plus-3 (34-31) on the glass.
Wenger continued his persuit of Damian Burnside's career steals record, taking away two more, to move within seven of tying the Blue Jay hall of famer.
Hathaway's nine points, Jake Sweger's six and five from Tommy James helped the Blue Jay bench outscore Drew's 24-9. Elizabethtown dominated the paint points, 42-18.
Mike Klinger, who leads the Landmark in scoring, increased his 19.4 point per game average with a game-high 33 for Drew. Klinger was 11-of-16 from the floor, 4-of-5 from 3-point range and 7-of-8 at the foul line. Ozan Yucetepe had 10 points, eight rebounds and four assists for the Rangers.
Elizabethtown makes the hour-long trip south to Baltimore to face Goucher Saturday night at 7 p.m.
