Balanced Attack Leads Drew Past Vaughn

MADISON, N.J. - Drew men’s basketball made it two wins in three games as it defeated the Vaughn Warriors, 80-58, in Baldwin Gym on Tuesday night. Every Ranger contributed in the victory and all, but one, scored at least two points. Joe Horvath had 11 points and six rebounds for Drew (4-11) while Lavar Smith led the Warriors (6-7) with 13 points and 10 rebounds. The Rangers shot a season high 53.6% in the win. Drew gets back into action with Landmark Conference play on Friday and Saturday against Susquehanna and Juniata, respectively.

The Rangers began to wear down the Warriors at the end of the first half, 35-29. After a sluggish start, Drew sprung to life with the introduction of Travis DeNapoli and Evan Elberg which brought the necessary energy to the floor. Drew had built a nine point leads after Mike Mayes scored on three consecutive possessions to make it 24-15 and later on Evan Elberg’s picture perfect three to make it 27-18. Vaughn battled back to take the lead on Mario Rodriguez’s acrobatic layup with 2:20 left to play, 29-28. The Rangers finished the half well thanks to some good ball movement. Travis DeNapoli found a cutting Horvath to regain the lead, 30-29. Mayes set up a streaking DeNapoli on the break with 52 seconds left before Horvath was at the end of another Mayes feed to drill a three. Drew shot a blistering 59.3% from the floor, but were held in check by the Warriors’ 4-7 three point shooting.

Drew led by just four with 14:30 left to play in the game before it pulled away down the stretch for the big win. DeNapoli got the good stretch started with a layup and Luke Mullaney followed with a floating jumper. After some Pat Dorsey free throws, Mayes’ steal and fast break assist for Mullaney made it a ten point Drew lead, 51-41. Three more free throws offset a Warrior point before the Rangers put the game away with a 16-0 run. Nick Ganzfried knocked down an open jumper before Mayes scored on an acrobatic fast break layup. Ganzfried, who put on a shooting display during his pregame ritual of warming up with half-court shots, followed by drilling a three pointer and then stealing ball to set up Pat Dorsey’s layup. Memhet Onen hit a free throw and, after Evan Elberg’s third steal of the game, Ganzfried hit his second triple for a 67-42 lead.

The Warriors pulled a few points back on free throws and a jumper by Lavar Smith, but Drew’s bench was scoring too well for the guests to make a rally. Ganzfried hit another three and Anthony Solano will drill one from distance as well. Mullaney got into the act with five late points as Drew closed out the balanced win.

The Rangers hit 30-56 from the field and 7-22 from behind the arc. Four Rangers scored in double figures, led by Mayes’ 12. Horvath, Ganzfried and Mullaney each scored 11 points. Dorsey had seven points while DeNapoli had six points, five rebounds and three assists. The only Rangers who did not score was Lucas Levenson, though the big center did have five rebounds and three blocked shots.

Smith had 14 points and 12 rebounds while Jihad Caesar added 13 points and ten rebounds.

With wins in two of its last three games, the Rangers are looking ahead to two key Landmark contests as they host Susquehanna on Friday and Juniata on Saturday.

Story provided by Drew Sports Information