ELON – Drexel never trailed and held off a late push from Elon to hand the Phoenix an 82-77 loss in Coastal Athletic Association play Saturday afternoon at Schar Center.
 
Drexel (13-12, 7-5 CAA) led for more than 38 minutes and built a double-digit advantage in each half, then converted enough free throws in the final minute to secure its third straight win. Elon (13-12, 5-7) dropped its third consecutive game.
 
Isaac Harrell scored a career- and game-high 25 points to lead Elon, going 7 of 11 from the field, 5 of 8 from 3-point range and 6 of 6 at the foul line. Bryson Cokley added 19 points and five rebounds, and Chandler Cuthrell finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double. Ja'Juan Carr chipped in nine points and three assists.
 
Drexel placed four players in double figures, led by Shane Blakeney with 15 points and Eli Beard with 16 on 6-of-7 shooting, including 4 of 5 from beyond the arc. Victor Panov added 15 points and Kevon Vanderhorst scored eight, hitting all six of his free throws. Garfield Turner contributed 14 points and 12 rebounds off the bench.
 
Drexel shot 52% from the field in the first half and went 6 of 12 from 3-point range to take a 46-38 lead into the break. The Dragons pushed the margin to 12 at 60-48 with 14:03 remaining after a second-chance dunk by Blakeney.
 
Elon answered with a steady climb back into the game. A pair of free throws by Cokley capped a personal 6-0 burst by the sophomore and trimmed the deficit to 64-60 with just over 10 minutes left. The Phoenix later closed within five twice in the final four minutes, including at 75-70 after a Cuthrell dunk off a turnover and again at 78-73 on Harrell's transition 3-pointer with 1:03 to play.
 
Drexel, however, went 4 of 6 at the free-throw line in the final 38 seconds to keep Elon from getting closer than five the rest of the way.
 
The Dragons finished 27 of 57 from the floor and 11 of 27 from 3-point range, while Elon shot 22 of 54 overall and 10 of 29 from deep. Elon held a 37-32 rebounding edge and scored 18 second-chance points but got just three bench points.
 
NOTES

• Saturday's contest had a season-high 2,021 fans in attendance at Schar Center.
• The 25-point effort was Harrell's second career game with 20-plus. His previous career high was 20 points against Army in the 2024-25 season finale in the first round of the CBI.
• Cuthrell's double-double was his fifth of the season.
• The Phoenix was 23 of 27 at the free throw line, falling one make shy of tying its season best.
• Elon's three-game losing streak is its longest of the season.

 
UP NEXT
Elon is on the road next week, playing at UNCW on Thursday and William & Mary on Saturday.
 
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