Madison, NJ (November 26, 2019)- The FDU Men's Basketball program fell to Drew University on Tuesday by the score of 86-74. Overall, the Devils drop to 3-4 on the season while the Rangers improve to 4-1.

FIRST HALF
The Devils started hot from behind the arc thanks to two threes from Junior Oliver Ortman and another from Junior Shawn Smith to take an early 9-6 lead. FDU would then build that lead to six, 14-8 on another Ortman three. The Rangers would battle back, going on an 11-4 run to retake the lead, 19-18 with 11:26 remaining in the half. Back and forth play would spell the next five minutes, before the Rangers built a six-point lead, 31-25 thanks to a 9-2 run. Drew would build their lead to as large as ten, before heading into the halftime break up 45-39.  

SECOND HALF
Through the first ten minutes of play, FDU battled and chipped at the Rangers lead. Six minutes in, Ortman hit a three and Smith drove to the bucket for five quick points, cutting the score to 54-50. The response from Drew was a 5-0 run of their own to regain a nine-point lead. Again, the Devils would answer. Senior Andy Fleurantin alongside Smith and Ortman would combine to score 11 of the games next 13 points to tie the score, 61-61 with 9:31 remaining in the game. The Rangers had the response, this time sealing the game for good. Drew would go on a 10-0 to take a 71-61 lead. The deficit was too much this time, as Drew would stay in the lead. The final score ended with the Rangers on top, 86-74.

LEAD DEVIL
For the sixth time in the Devils first seven contests Ortman led the team in scoring. He finished with 26 points on 9-of-17 (53%) shooting from the field and knocked down six three-pointers.

DISHING THE ROCK
Smith continues to dish out the assists for FDU, finishing the game with six assists for the third time this season. This is also his fifth game finishing with five or more helpers for the Devils. He also finished the game second in scoring with a season-high 23 points and grabbing a season-high 9 rebounds.

KEY CONTRIBUTOR
Fleurantin finished with 17 points while going 8-for-9 (89%) from the charity stripe.  This is also his second straight game finishing with that point total and the fourth time this season he has finished with 17 or more points.

FROM COACH

"Tough loss tonight on the road against a really good Drew team. We played really hard, did a whole lot of good but made too many dumb mistakes, both physical and mental, to win a game against an opponent like that. Lots of credit to Drew, who capitalized on it felt like all of them, just like really good teams do." - Head Coach Jeff Slanovec 

UP NEXT
The Devils conclude their seventh straight game on the road when they travel to Poughkeepsie, NY on Tuesday, December 3 to take on Vassar College. Tip-off for that game is scheduled for 7 p.m.