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Drexel sets Division I record with 34-point comeback

Army v Duke

DURHAM, NC - NOVEMBER 30: Head coach Zach Spiker of the Army Black Knights directs his team against the Duke Blue Devils during a game at Cameron Indoor Stadium on November 30, 2014 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Lance King/Getty Images)

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A Drexel basket brought the score to an innocuous 5-3 in the first two minutes of its game against Delaware. The next 38 minutes were a lot more interesting.

The Blue Hens went on a 48-16 run to take a 34-point first-half lead on Drexel, only to cough it up as Dragons outscored them 66-30 the rest of the way to complete the largest comeback in Division I history in an 85-83 victory:

The 34-point comeback tops the previous record of 32 by Duke on Dec. 30, 1950. That’s more than 67 years ago, for those keeping score at home.

Delaware had a win probability of at least 99 percent for about 11 minutes in the middle of the game. They led 56-29 at halftime and still managed to lose. Drexel shot 56.8 percent from the floor and 53.8 percent from 3-point range after halftime. They opened the second half on an 18-4 run and, after the lead was pushed back to 17 points, responded with another 17-4 run to keep things interesting.

Tramaine Isabell led the way for the Dragons with 29 points, 12 rebounds and 9 assists. He scored or assisted on 38 points after halftime, and he scored 27 of his 29 points in the final 22:30 of the game. Drexel finally retook a two-point lead on Delaware with 1:55 left and, after Delaware tired the game, again took the lead with 1:13 left. But a Ryan Daly jumper with 10 seconds left to tie the game. On Drexel’s final possession, Isabell was fouled shooting a three and, with 2.2 seconds left, he made two of three free throws.

Drexel would, of course, go on to win.

The great thing about college basketball is you can get a historic performance out of Drexel and Delaware on a random Thursday night. And it’s not even March yet.