WASHINGTON (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive-minded affair dictated by physicality and timely shot-making, the Monmouth Hawks pulled away late to secure a 65-57 victory over the Drexel Dragons in a Colonial Athletic Association men’s basketball game Sunday at CareFirst Arena.

A crowd of 1,666 saw the Hawks improve to 18-14 overall, while Drexel moved to 17-16. The game, which featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes, was a stark contrast to the teams’ previous two high-scoring meetings this season, both blowout wins for the home side.

The most critical phase of the contest unfolded over the final five minutes, transforming a nail-biter into an eight-point Monmouth victory. With the score knotted at 50 and just over five minutes remaining, Monmouth embarked on a decisive 12-2 run that sealed the outcome. The surge was fueled by stifling defense and key contributions from their leading performers.

Stefanos Spartalis, the 6-foot-9 junior from Chios, Greece, was instrumental during this stretch. He drew a foul and sank two free throws to break the tie, then followed with a smooth turnaround jumper to extend the lead. Spartalis finished with 14 points, three assists and two blocks in 24 minutes, providing a crucial interior presence.

Fellow junior Jason Rivera-Torres of the Bronx, New York, complemented Spartalis’s work inside with timely perimeter play. The 6-foot-7 wing also scored 14 points, including a critical three-pointer during the late run, and added two assists and a block while playing a game-high 37 minutes. His length and activity disrupted Drexel’s offensive flow throughout the second half.

Drexel, which led 33-32 at halftime, was plagued by offensive stagnation when it mattered most. The Dragons managed just two field goals in the final seven minutes of the game. Kevon Vanderhorst, a sophomore guard from Raleigh, North Carolina, led all scorers with 15 points for Drexel, but was limited in the closing stages. Shane Blakeney added 11 points and four assists, and Victor Panov chipped in 10 points.

Monmouth’s defensive anchor, 6-foot-11 sophomore Dok Muordar from Rumbek, South Sudan, altered the game despite playing only 12 minutes. He recorded three blocks, including two emphatic denials in the second half that ignited transition opportunities and energized the Hawks. Justin Ray provided a vital spark off the bench with 11 points and two blocks, while point guard Kavion McClain commanded the game for 40 minutes, contributing nine points and four assists.

The first half was a back-and-forth struggle. Drexel opened an early 9-2 lead behind three-pointers from Blakeney and Panov, but Monmouth responded with a 13-3 run to take its first lead. The Dragons relied on Vanderhorst’s hot hand—he had 13 points before the break—to maintain a slim advantage at intermission.

The second half continued in the same tense vein. Neither team led by more than four points until Monmouth’s final push. Drexel’s offense, which shot poorly from the floor, ultimately could not withstand the Hawks’ sustained defensive pressure and the scoring tandem of Spartalis and Rivera-Torres down the stretch.

Monmouth, which entered the game as a 3-point favorite, saw the total points fall well under the projected over/under of 138.5. The win completed a regular-season series split, with each team defending its home court decisively before Monmouth broke the pattern on a neutral floor.

The game was characterized by rugged defense, with both teams combining for 15 blocks and numerous forced turnovers. In the end, Monmouth’s ability to execute in the half-court during the final minutes and get critical stops proved to be the difference in a low-scoring CAA battle.