Friday, November 23rd, 2:00 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: The Palestra (8,722) -- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Television: CN8. Home Record: Robert Morris 1-0, Drexel 1-0. Away Record: Robert Morris 1-1, Drexel 2-1. Neutral Record: Robert Morris 0-0, Drexel 0-0. Conference Record: Robert Morris 0-0, Drexel 0-0. Series Record: Series is tied 1-1.

GAME NOTES: The Colonials of Robert Morris travel east to participate in the Philly Hoop Group Classic as they take on the Drexel Dragons Friday afternoon at The Palestra. Robert Morris is coming off a disappointing loss to Seton Hall earlier in the week. After trailing by as many as 23 in the second half, the Hall stormed back to tie the game in regulation and come away with a 111-107 overtime victory. The heartbreaking loss followed two convincing wins for the Colonials over Iona (72-66) and Navy (93-77). How the team responds after the letdown will determine how successful they are in Northeast Conference this season. The Dragons are also coming off a loss, but held their own against nationally ranked Virginia on Tuesday. Though Drexel fell 72-58, they were within two points in the second half before the Cavs pulled away. After winning their first three contests, the Colonial Athletic Association will need to keep tabs on the Dragons going forward. The winner of this game will play whoever advances between Loyola Maryland and Howard. Drexel and Robert Morris have not met since 1982, when the teams split a home and home set.

Senior guard Tony Lee may not be leading the Colonials in scoring, but his all- around game will be the reason Robert Morris succeeds this season. While chipping in with 12.7 points a game, Lee is leading the team in rebounds and assists with 9.0 apiece per game. The only thing he hasn't done is shoot well from the line, hitting only 9-of-17 attempts from the stripe. Lee has a pair of go-to scorers in Jeremy Chappell and A.J. Jackson. The sharpshooters account for 37.3 points a game thus far, but will need to improve on their three-point shooting, as they've combined to hit just 12-of-36 from behind the arc. After scoring 13 points in the loss to Seton Hall, Jackson ran his streak of double- figure scoring games to 12 dating back to last year. Though they aren't particularly big in the post, the Colonials are out-rebounding their opponents by 4.7 boards per game.

The game plan for the Dragons is simple: Get the ball to Frank Elegar. From the post, Elegar can create his own shot, or, when double-teamed, kick it out to the perimeter to open teammates. The forward leads the team with 17.5 ppg, including a 23-point effort in the loss to Seton Hall. He's hitting an astounding 62.9 percent from the floor, and getting to the line just under 10 times a game. His prime perimeter help comes in the form of Tramayne Hawthorne. Hawthorne has hit 14 three pointers in the early season, while averaging 17.3 ppg. He's also leading the team in assists (16) and steals (11). Gerald Colds has been anything but cold coming off the bench. He's draining 52.0 percent from behind the arc in averaging 11.3 ppg. With these offensive weapons, and the defense holding teams to just 36.3 percent shooting from the field, the Dragons will be a tough matchup throughout the season.

Though Robert Morris has been lights out in averaging 90.7 points in their first three games, they haven't faced a defensive minded team like the Dragons. The Colonials have no one to stop Elegar, as his number will be called early and often.

Predicted Outcome

Drexel 79, Robert Morris 75