BALTIMORE (Interstat) — In a game defined by runs and a frantic final minute, the Drexel Dragons held off a second-half surge from the Morgan State Bears to secure a 71-66 victory Tuesday night at Hill Field House.

Playing in front of an intimate crowd of 397, the Dragons built a comfortable first-half lead but had to withstand a relentless individual effort from Morgan State’s Alfred Worrell down the stretch to even their season record at 4-4. The loss dropped the Bears to 1-6.

Drexel seized control early, opening the game on a 15-4 run fueled by the hot shooting of guard Eli Beard. The sophomore from Big Sandy, Texas, connected on three first-half 3-pointers, helping the Dragons establish a 34-28 advantage at the break. Drexel’s offense was efficient in the opening period, while Morgan State struggled to find a consistent rhythm, committing 10 turnovers.

The second half saw a dramatic shift in momentum. The Bears, led by the backcourt duo of Worrell and Elijah Davis, chipped away at the deficit. Worrell, a Washington, D.C. native, erupted for 19 of his game-high 25 points after halftime. His driving layup with just over nine seconds remaining brought Morgan State within a single possession at 68-66, capping a remarkable individual performance.

Drexel, however, had an answer at the free-throw line. Following Worrell’s basket, Shane Blakeney was fouled and calmly sank two free throws to extend the lead back to four. After a Morgan State timeout, the Bears’ last-gasp attempt, a 3-pointer from Worrell, missed the mark, and Victor Panov secured the defensive rebound to effectively seal the game.

While Worrell’s scoring outburst was the headline for the home team, Davis provided a stellar all-around effort for Morgan State, finishing with 19 points and a game-high seven assists in 40 minutes of action.

The Dragons countered with a balanced scoring attack. Beard led the way with 15 points, while Swedish forward Villiam Garcia Adsten added 12 and Shane Blakeney chipped in 10 points, four assists, and two critical blocks. Panov, the 6-foot-7 forward from St. Petersburg, Russia, was efficient off the bench, contributing nine points.

A key to Drexel’s victory was its ability to dominate inside, matching Morgan State’s 32 points in the paint while also winning the battle on the glass. The Dragons also limited their mistakes in the second half, a stark contrast to the Bears, who scored 16 points off Drexel turnovers but could not overcome their own offensive inconsistencies.

The game’s final score fell well under the pregame over/under line of 149.5, a testament to the defensive stretches from both teams. Drexel also covered the spread, having been installed as a 7.5-point favorite.

The win gives Drexel a positive momentum swing as they head into their next contest on the road against American on Dec. 3. Morgan State will look to snap its losing skid when it returns to Hill Field House to host Longwood on Dec. 6.