Al Bello/Getty Images
The most unlikely of victories occurred at Philadelphia’s Daskalakis Athletic Center on Thursday night, as Drexel fought back from 34 points down to secure a 85-83 win over Delaware. The win marked the largest come-from-behind win in the history of Division I basketball.
At halftime, Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens were obliterating Drexel by a score of 53-19. After the half, Drexel outscored its opponent 66-30, including a 17-4 run and an 18-4 run, shooting 58 percent in the process. Delaware, on the other hand, made 12-33 field goals on 36% shooting and 2-10 from deep from 2:30 in the first half until the end of the game.
Drexel was hungrier. Exhibit A.
The scramble. The three. The fist pump. 4-point game pic.twitter.com/XZ0oXNn9AQ
— Drexel Men's Basketball (@DrexelMBB) February 23, 2018
The score was knotted up at 83 when Drexel’s Tramaine Isabell was fouled shooting a three. Isabell, who finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists, made two free throws with 2.2 seconds to secure the monumental win. The Mizzou transfer was responsible for 46 of Drexel’s final 66 points and scored or assisted on more points than the entire Delaware team during Drexel’s comeback run.
After the game, ESPN college basketball Insider Jeff Borzello spoke to the Drexel guard.
“Coaches just kept screaming at us during timeouts, whatever the run was. 17-2, 8-0. After you hear that a couple times, you [start thinking] maybe this is possible. And we just made history.”
According to The Big Lead, the previous Division I record for a comeback was 32 points, set by Duke against Tulane in 1950.
Check out the wild highlights below:
For all you youngsters at home, let this be a lesson: resolve and hard-work can pay off in the most seemingly hopeless of situations.
[h/t The Big Lead]