Chris Fouch became the 32nd player in Drexel history to score 1,000 points

Every successful basketball team has talented players who learn to accept their roles.  Players who are capable of leading the team in different statistical categories may be expected to defer to teammates with different skill-sets that help the team win. 

Drexel has one such player in Chris Fouch.  The junior guard, who was voted to the Preseason All-CAA Second Team, missed the first four games of the season with a knee injury.  Even when he returned to the Dragons’ lineup, his minutes were limited as he worked his way back into basketball-shape.  With the emergence of underclassmen guards Frantz Massenat and Damion Lee, Fouch has yet to start this season and averaged only 21.6 minutes per game leading up to Saturday’s game against Hofstra.

Playing his most complete game of the season, Fouch scored a season-high 25 points in 30 minutes of play as Drexel topped the Pride, 78-67.  The junior connected on eight of his ten field goal attempts, including his first six three-pointers.  Fouch also surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his career on the day.

Massenat added 20 points on eight-of-nine shooting, and Lee chipped in another 15.  The trio of Fouch, Massenat and Lee collectively hit 22 of their 29 shots, provided nine assists and committed only three turnovers.

After the game, Fouch was asked about his performance.

“My role is to bring leadership off the bench,” the guard said.  “I’m not going to shoot as much and I just need to be patient.”

Just as important as the quantity of points Fouch scored was his timing.  Consistent with the high level of effort Hofstra has displayed all season, Coach Mo Cassara’s Pride made several runs to cut into Drexel’s lead.  After scoring only five points in the first half, Fouch answered several second-half attempts by Hofstra to get back within striking distance.

• After Stephen Nwaukoni made a layup at 17:42 to pull Hofstra within 36-34, Fouch was fouled on a three-point attempt on Drexel’s next possession.  After his three free throws made the score 39-34, Fouch would hit a three-pointer the next Drexel possession to push the lead to 42-34.
• With Hofstra hanging around at the under-twelve media timeout, Fouch hit another trey on Drexel’s first possession to make the score 55-40.  This sparked the Dragons to score on its next three possessions for a 61-42 lead.
• After Hofstra held Drexel scoreless the next two-plus minutes and cut the lead to 61-47, Fouch hit a three-pointer on Drexel’s first possession after the under-eight media timeout.  The guard then answered a Lester jumper with another trey to push Drexel’s lead to 67-49.
• Hofstra scored ten consecutive points the next two minutes to get within 67-59 with less than four minutes remaining.  But Fouch answered this run with his sixth and final three-pointer at 3:41 to push the lead back to double-digits.
• Lester answered Fouch’s three with one of his own to again pull Hofstra within eight points at the under-four media timeout.  Fouch would effectively end Hofstra’s chance at victory by hitting a runner in the lane as the shot clock expired on Drexel’s first possession after the timeout.

In all, Fouch scored on Drexel’s first possession following the under-twelve, under-eight and under-four media timeouts. Following the game, the first item Coach Bruiser Flint addressed was Fouch’s performance. 

“He was on fire today,” jokingly adding that “it’s about time!”  Flint went on to acknowledge that Fouch “knows we don’t need him to shoot 20 times a game.  With Chris back, the rotation is better – everybody’s more comfortable in the spots they’ve been in.” 

With the loss, Hofstra’s record falls to 8-19 (2-13) as the team has lost eight of their last ten games.  Included in that stretch are losses to CAA-powers Drexel (twice), George Mason (twice), Virginia Commonwealth and Old Dominion.  Despite the losing, Coach Cassara’s team continues to give maximum effort.

“I’ve been on with teams with losing records that don’t play hard,” Cassara noted.  “This team plays hard.”

Regarding the Dragons (21-5, 13-2), the CAAZone asked Coach Flint if this year’s squad was the best he’s had at Drexel. 

“Yes it is,” Flint admitted.  “We do a better job shooting the ball this year.  We’ve always played good defense.  We’re not as good rebounding this year…because we hit more shots.”  Coach Cassara also called this year’s Drexel team “one of the best teams in the CAA, if not one of the best mid-major teams in the country.” 

Both teams return to action this Tuesday.  Hofstra hosts a Delaware team that has won its last four games, while Drexel hosts a William and Mary team that beat Northeastern Saturday by 25 points.