Bobcats fall to Drexel twice in 24-hour span

UNCASVILLE — It’s rare that college basketball teams play each other twice in the span of 19 hours.

It’s even rarer when the teams don’t even play in the same conference.

Ah, 2020 strikes again.

After being drubbed by Drexel on Wednesday night in Bubbleville, Quinnipiac met the Dragons again on Thursday afternoon at Mohegan Sun Arena. The results were a bit better, but still a 70-58 loss for the Bobcats, who fell to 1-2.

On Wednesday night, Drexel rolled out to an 18-point halftime lead and maintained it until the end en route to a 66-48 victory.

“We got better in the second game,” Quinnipiac coach Baker Dunleavy said. “You don’t want to walk away saying you lost (two) games, but especially in a year like this, you’re trying to create a situation where your team can improve gradually and pick up on some habits that hopefully put you in a better place for the rest of the year.”

The games were part of the Basketball Hall of Fame Tip-Off Tournament. In fact, they were the only games of that tournament. Originally slated to be a four-team event, two teams backed off, a couple of others joined and then backed out, and by Saturday it was just down to Quinnipiac and Drexel.

So, Dunleavy and Drexel coach Zack Spiker decided to play games on Wednesday evening and Thursday afternoon.

“We just looked at it as a positive,” Dunleavy said. “Let’s get some practice, doing what we’re gonna do every play, and go from there. It was odd. But, it is the dynamic of this year.”

Freshman Tymu Chenery led Quinnipiac with 13 points off the bench, while Seth Pinkney and Brendan McGuire added 11 apiece.

Like all teams in the MAAC this season, Quinnipiac will be playing league opponents on backto-back nights, Fridays and Saturdays, at one team’s home floor. Drexel competes in the Colonial Athletic Association.

The Bobcats’ league season begins on Dec. 11 and 12 at People’s United Center against Rick Pitino and Iona.

“He’s one of the greatest college coaches of all time,” Dunleavy said of Pitino. “We’re lucky to have him in the league. Maybe we won’t feel that way when we play against him. I’m sure we’ll get to know each other over the coming years, competing.”