The University of Pennsylvania men's basketball team was defeated by Drexel, 60-47, in the opening game of the Big 5 Classic held at the Wells Fargo Center on Saturday. This loss brought Penn's record to 3-6 for the season, while Drexel improved to 6-4.
Nick Spinoso, a senior from Penn, led the scoring with 21 points. He also contributed seven rebounds and two steals. Junior Ethan Roberts added 11 points, marking his fourth consecutive game scoring in double figures. Freshman Michelangelo Oberti was notable for his nine rebounds and two assists.
Drexel's performance was highlighted by Cole Hargrove's double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds, along with three blocked shots. Kobe MaGee scored 12 points and Yame Butler added another ten.
The game started evenly with both teams exchanging leads multiple times during the first half. Penn managed a slight edge at one point but failed to score for over three minutes, allowing Drexel an opportunity to lead with an 8-0 run. By halftime, the teams were tied at 30-30.
In the second half, despite early scores from Roberts and Spinoso giving Penn a brief lead, their offense stalled again. Drexel capitalized on this drought with a decisive run that gave them control of the game. The Dragons extended their lead further after a media timeout, creating a gap that Penn could not bridge.
Penn is scheduled to play against VCU in Richmond on Monday night at 7 p.m., marking their first encounter with this opponent.
For updates on Penn men's basketball activities, fans can follow @PennMBB on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram or visit PennAthletics.com.
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