Robinson's Heroics Vault Drew Men's Basketball to First-Ever Landmark Conference Title

MADISON, N.J. - In one of the team's biggest victories in program history, the Drew University men's basketball team claimed its first Landmark Conference title in thrilling fashion, defeating the University of Scranton 84-78 in overtime inside Baldwin Gym.

Tournament MVP Lybrant Robinson played the role of hero for the top-seeded Rangers, banking in a 3-pointer at the buzzer to force OT. The senior forward went on to score 10 points in the extra session, including another 3 that gave the Rangers a four-point lead with 32 seconds left. For good measure, he helped ice the victory by grabbing two key rebounds and going 4-for-4 at the foul line in the final 19 seconds.

Freshman guard Malcolm Newman added 24 points for the top-seeded Rangers (6-1), who captured their first postseason title since winning the ECAC Metro Region championship in 1997. Senior forward Malachi Walker, Jr. added a double-double with 10 points and a career-high 14 rebounds while junior guard David Gervase scored 12 points.

Sophomore forward Howard McBurnie, Jr., the Landmark Conference's leading rebounder entering the game (11.8 rpg), grabbed 10 boards in just 22 minutes of play before leaving the game with an injury early in the second half.

Jackson Danzig posted 22 points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists to pace second-seeded Scranton (7-3) while Logan Bailey scored 21 points for the Royals.

The Rangers led for all but 2:09 in the game, but Scranton took a 68-66 lead with 27 seconds left when Brian Monaghan nailed a jumper in the paint. At the other end, the Rangers missed a shot and were forced to foul. Scranton proceeded to make 1-of-2, and Walker grabbed the rebound on the second shot before tossing it out to Robinson, who took care of the rest.

Receiving the ball on the left sideline near midcourt, Robinson dribbled to the left elbow and elevated for a contested shot that glanced off the glass and through the net, igniting the Ranger bench.

Robinson picked up right where he left off in OT, driving to the bucket for a lay-in to put the Rangers back in front (71-69). Scranton scored the next four points, however, before Newman dropped in a spinning, acrobatic lay-up while drawing the foul. He would hit the ensuing free throw to make it 74-73 and the Rangers would not trail again.

Scranton tied it when it split a pair of foul shots with 1:13 left. But that's when Robinson drew a foul attacking the rim, and he would go 1-for-2 to put the Rangers on top 77-76.

The Royals committed a turnover at the other end of the floor, and Rangers gained the ball with a nine-second differential between the game and shot clock. However, when Robinson was left wide open in the left corner just seven seconds into the possession, he pulled the trigger and connected for another big-time trey, making it 80-76.

Scranton missed its next two shots, and Robinson collected both rebounds before hitting a pair of free throws on both occasions to secure the win.

Drew trailed just twice in the first half and pushed its lead to eight (27-19) on a Walker fastbreak dunk with 7:01 on the clock. The Royals narrowed the gap to four, but Robinson converted a lay-up in transition to give his team a 34-26 halftime advantage.

The Rangers matched their largest lead of the game (38-29) on another Robinson fastbreak bucket with 18:49 remaining. Drew held a 50-42 lead after Walker drilled a 3-pointer with 12:31 to go, but Scranton clawed all the way back to take the lead. It was a nip-and-tuck affair down the stretch, as there were four ties and five lead changes over the final 5:12, capped by Robinson's big shot.