There’s no place like home. The Dons dug deep and beat Sir Francis Drake 47-44 in a thrilling come-from-behind win in front of an enthusiastic home crowd. Graham Smith started the Dons’ night, scoring the first 5 points. Steals by Graham and Aidan Bodner, and blocks and rebounds by Jake Davis led to baskets by Jackson Aris-Dumas and Jake. The Dons were up 11-10 at the end of the first quarter. The second quarter, steals by Scott Ruegg and Aidan led to 3 points by each. But the Dons were running low on energy, and Drake outscored the Dons 18-8, taking a 28-19 lead.

The Dons came alive in the third quarter, going on an 8-0 run and scoring 19 points. Aidan nailed a 3-pointer, followed by back-to-back steals and baskets by Aidan and Scott. Graham and Jake each added a basket. The Dons defense was powerful, with Jake, Aidan, and John Kalil helping to limit Drake to 7 points.

The fourth quarter started with the Dons up 38-35. Jake, Graham, Scott, and Aidan poured on the rebounds and steals. When Drake hit a 3-pointer, Graham immediately answered with a 3-pointer of his own. Scott’s rebound and fast break and Aidan’s layup gave the Dons a small cushion. With 24 seconds left, the Dons were up 47-44. Jake made a key defensive move on Drake’s final inbound, and the Dons celebrated at the buzzer. They can now relax until Dec. 26, when they host the three-day Chris Huber Classic.