BOSTON - Drexel coach Bruiser Flint wasn't exactly all smiles Wednesday night even though his team beat Northeastern, 61-53, in a Colonial Athletic Association game.
One reason was what he perceived as a lackluster practice on Tuesday.
"We actually put ourselves in a situation where we had to bear down," Flint said after his team extended its winning streak to 10 games and moved into a tie for first in the CAA with George Mason and VCU.
"We had some really bad turnovers that they turned into baskets."
Actually, Northeastern only scored five points off 11 Drexel miscues.
"The thing I got on my team about is that I didn't think they prepared well for the game yesterday," Flint said. "I told them that we've been playing well. Don't prepare yourself to lose. We know they're a good team, and they played us physical tonight. They brought their physicality because they know we like to play that way. They brought it to us tonight, and I didn't like our mental approach."
Freshman guard Damion Lee scored a career-high 25 points for the Dragons (18-5, 10-2), who have also won 16 of their last 17. Lee clinched the victory by scoring 10 points in the last 2 minutes, 45 seconds. In the process, he converted eight of 10 shots from the free throw line.
"I really don't think anything," Lee said of his approach at the line. Overall, he was 11 of 13 at the line. "I just stay calm and try to focus on making free throws."
Frantz Massenat contributed 12 points for Drexel, while Jonathan Lee led Northeastern (11-11, 7-5) with 15.
Since Delaware beat George Mason and VCU topped William and Mary, the Dragons are tied with the Colonials and Rams for first place. But that didn't seem to impress Lee.
"That really doesn't have an effect on how we look at it as a team because our goal is to win out," Lee said. "We mainly focus on ourselves. We don't focus on what other teams are doing as long as we focus on ourselves."
Northeastern grabbed its second lead of the game, at 26-25, when Reggie Spencer drained a jumper 20 seconds after intermission.
Damion Lee then keyed a mini-run by scoring on a fastbreak and burying a trey which gave Drexel a 36-31 lead.
"He's good," Flint said of Lee.
