With winter sports seasons wrapping up, and the spring seasons right around the corner, we at the Triangle will once again highlight our Triangle Athlete of the Week, Jason “Deuce” Drake.
Jason Drake, more commonly known as “Deuce,” transferred to Drexel this past spring after spending his freshman season at Cleveland State, and his sophomore year at Junior College Butler Community College. He showcased his shooting and scoring ability with the Grizzlies, notching 42% from beyond the arc and scoring double figures in 15 of 31 contests.
Drake struggled slightly out of the gate, averaging under eight points per game, and shooting a pedestrian 40% from the field through his first 10 games with the Dragons. Although slightly heating up in conference play, Drake still lacked a set role on the team, seeing his playing time fluctuate greatly game to game.
Following a double overtime loss at Monmouth, and a one point loss to Towson in Maryland, the Dragons were in dire need of a statement win taking on the William & Mary Tribe at the DAC. The junior guard played average for the first half, shooting three of eight for six points, four rebounds, and four assists.
The second half was a struggle for the Dragons, who allowed the Tribe to go on a 9-2 run for the first four minutes, bringing the score to 41-39 Drexel. It was Deuce and forward Yame Butler who broke the streak, with the guard scoring 19 second half points and adding five more assists, ending the game with 25 points and 9 assists, both season and career highs for Drake.
After defeating William & Mary 86-66, the Dragons again welcomed tough competition to the DAC, as the UNCW Seahawks, the winners of seven straight, came to town. The Dragons were down 61-59 with under a minute to go, Shane Blakeney drove into the paint and landed a hookshot, eventually sending the game to overtime.
In overtime, both teams struggled to score, but with 30 seconds remaining, UNCW’s Greedy Williams hit two free throws, setting the Seahawks up five. With 17 seconds left, a Deuce layup in the paint brought it to a one score game, before Cole Hargrove fouled Sean Moore, who missed both shots from the charity stripe. A Villiam Garcia Adsten defensive rebound then led to a final drive with under ten seconds left, where Drake received the ball and hit a pullup jumper with three seconds left to re-tie the game at 69.
Despite losing the game 81-79 in double overtime, Drake’s nine points in overtime, and 21 points for the game both led the team, and helped keep pace with an incredibly strong UNCW team.
In addition to winning the prestigious Triangle Athlete of the Week award, Drake took home Big 5 Player of the Week honors, the first Dragon to earn the award since Amari Williams over a year earlier.
Catch Deuce and the Dragons this Saturday at 2pm, as they once again take on the William & Mary Tribe, this time in Williamsburg.