Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Florida Gulf Coast
Hawthorne Rallies Drexel Past Florida Gulf Coast, 77-58
11/14/2007 10:24:01 PM | Men's Basketball
Fort Myers, Fla.—Tramayne Hawthorne sparked an 18-0 run midway through the second half as Drexel improved to 3-0 with a 77-58 win at Florida Gulf Coast. The Dragons shot a sizzling 68 percent from the field in the second half as the Dragons pulled away from the Eagles (1-1), who were playing their first home game as a Division I school.
Florida Gulf Coast took the lead with 17:07 to play when Terike Barrowes scored on a lay-up to make it 44-43. It was the first time all season Drexel trailed in a game. The Eagles lead didn't last for long. With the game tied at 47-47, Hawthorne started the 18-0 run by scoring eight straight points. He knocked down a pair of threes and then came up with a steal and scored on a breakaway lay-up. Florida Gulf Coast was never able to answer the run. Hawthorne finished the game with a career-high 22 points and six assists.
Drexel jumped out to a double figures lead midway through the first half, but the Eagles got the Dragons in foul trouble and cut the lead to four points with just four seconds left in the first half. However, Drexel stopped the Eagles' momentum when freshman Gerald Colds nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer, just a few steps passed half court to make it a 41-34 Drexel lead at the break.
Colds had another strong game off the bench offensively. He scored 12 points and had four three-pointers. Scott Rodgers added 11 points and seven rebounds and had three treys.
The Drexel bench scored 27 points in its best performance of the season. Evan Neisler scored seven points and had six rebounds, while Kenny Tribbett, who played a key role with Frank Elegar in foul trouble, had six points and five rebounds.
The Dragons are off until Tuesday, when they travel to Charlottesville to face the University of Virginia in the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The game is at 8 p.m. and can be seen on CN8.
