Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Virginia
Men's Basketball Falls to No. 23 Virginia, 72-58
11/20/2007 11:15:10 PM | Men's Basketball
Charlottesville, Va..— Virginia went on a 14-3 run early in the second half to break open a close game and defeat Drexel, 72-58, in the second game of the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The Dragons (3-1) held the Cavaliers to just 38 percent shooting from the floor in front of a crowd of 10,975 in Charlottesville, but the No. 23 Cavaliers (4-0) drained half of their long range attempts and missed just four free throws in the contest.
Drexel trailed by only two points at 32-30 with 17 minutes left after Frank Elegar (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) scored on a lay-up. Elegar, who scored a game-high 23 points, scored the team's first eight points in the final 20 minutes. Virginia slowly pulled away by scoring 13 points off turnovers and converting 15 of 18 free throws in the second half.
The Dragons played well defensively early on and held the Cavaliers without a point for more than six minutes to start the game. However, Drexel managed just two field goals during that stretch. The game went back and forth until Virginia took the lead for good with 3:25 to play when Sean Singletary sank a three-pointer. After a Drexel turnover, Calvin Baker scored on a short jumper to put the Cavs up by four. Elegar answered, but Virginia went on a mini-run to end the half ahead by a score of 31-25.
Singletary led Virginia with 24 points. He was held in check early by the Drexel defense, especially Tramayne Hawthorne (Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire), but was able to make all three of his long-range attempts and shoot 7-for-8 from the line. Singletary was 7-for-19 from the floor and was forced into eight turnovers. Mamadi Diane, Adrian Joseph and Calvin Baker each added 11 points. Virginia outrebounded the Dragons by a 44-27 margin and grabbed 17 offensive boards.
Hawthorne added 10 points, while Randy Oveneke added seven points and a team-high seven rebounds.
The Dragons conclude play in the Philly Hoop Group Classic over the holiday weekend. Drexel will face Robert Morris on Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. and then face either Loyola (Md.) or Howard on Saturday afternoon. Both games are at the Palestra.
