HARRISONBURG, Va. – Zep Jasper sparked a late second-half run with 11-straight points as third-seeded College of Charleston came up short to sixth-seeded Drexel, 80-75, in the quarterfinals of the 2021 Hercules Tires Colonial Athletic Association Men's Basketball Championship on Sunday night at Atlantic Union Bank Center.
 
Jasper, who willed the Cougars (9-10) to victory on several occasions throughout the COVID-plagued season, ended the night with a game-high 27 points on 10-of-21 shooting from the field and 5-for-10 shooting from long range. The All-CAA Second Team and CAA All-Defensive Team selection also dished out three of the team's 11 assists versus the Dragons (10-7).
 
Payton Willis, a graduate senior, who transferred from Minnesota, recorded 22 points and four assists in his final collegiate game.
 
Drexel had four players in double figures and shot 55.4 percent from the floor (31-of-56). The Dragons avenged two close, regular-season losses to Charleston that were decided by a combined six points.
 
All-CAA First Team selection and Drexel's leading scorer Camren Wynter tallied 16 points, but it was his teammate Zach Walton, who led the team in scoring with 17 and into the semifinals versus second-seeded Northeastern.
 
POSTGAME NOTES
· College of Charleston went with the starting five of Zep Jasper, Payton Willis, Brenden Tucker, Lorenzo Edwards and Osinachi Smart (7-5).
· Drexel ended a six-game losing streak in the all-time series with College of Charleston. It was the Dragons' first win in four all-time meetings in a CAA Tournament game with the Cougars.
· Zep Jasper registered a game-high 27 points with five 3-pointers against Drexel. It marked his third career 20-point game. He ended the season on a career-best eight-game double-digit scoring streak.
· Payton Willis recorded 22 points and four assists versus Drexel. It marked his 15th double-digit scoring game of the season.
· Keegan Harvey came off the bench and reset career highs in rebounds (8), assists (1) and 3-point field goals made (2) and attempted (3) against Drexel. He also added six points.
· The Cougars made a season-low two turnovers in the ballgame with 11 assists.
· CofC knocked down 10 three-pointers versus the Dragons – the fourth time this season with 10-or-more triples in a single game.
 
POSTGAME QUOTES
 
College of Charleston Head Coach Earl Grant
On the difference in the game …
"Obviously, give a lot of credit to Drexel. We knew it would be a challenge coming into the game. I thought those guys, in both of the games we played before this one. We beat them, but they were very close games. We did a lot of things well. We were in rhythm. Tonight, they were much more in rhythm. I thought they played with a lot of confidence from the beginning of the game. It was hard for us to keep up, just them making a lot of threes. We contested most of them, some of them we didn't. I thought they were really in-sync and played well."
 
On Zep Jasper trying to will the team to victory again …
"I felt like we had a chance to come back and win. But, every time we would cut it to four, they made a huge shot. They came up with timely shots. We changed defenses a few times. You have to credit them. There were some things we could have done better. But, they played a really good game."
 
College of Charleston Junior Guard Zep Jasper
On the difference in the game …
"Credit to Drexel. They are a really good team. (Camren) Wynter and (James) Butler. I credit their shooting. They came out shooting lights out tonight."
 
On scoring 11-straight points to get the Cougars back in the game late …
"I was just trying to help my team win. Try to fight back. Get back in the game."
 
On the challenge of the season …
"I think the season, we had our ups-and-downs, because of COVID. It's tough having two weeks off and then come back and play a game. This year has been hard for a lot of teams. We hadn't played in two weeks, so I think it took a toll on us and it showed tonight."