Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Penn
Hawthorne and Colds Lead Dragons Past Penn in OT, 67-59
11/9/2007 10:30:43 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia – Drexel freshman Gerald Colds (New York, N.Y./St. Raymond's) nailed two three-pointers in overtime in his collegiate debut as the Dragons defeated Penn in the Palestra, 67-59. It was the fourth straight win for the Dragons over a Philadelphia Big 5 team, the first time in school history that has happened.
Colds opened the overtime period with a trey to give Drexel the lead. After Penn tied the contest at 57 with 2:23 to play, Colds, on the next possession, hit his sixth three-pointer of the game to put Drexel ahead, 60-57. Frank Elegar (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) came up with a steal on Penn's next trip down court and when Evan Neisler (Raleigh, N.C./Boston College) hit a jump shot from the elbow with 1:20 left, the Dragons were up by five and never looked back.
Drexel never trailed in the game, but had its 17-point lead cut to three with five seconds to play. Penn's Michael Kach was fouled with five seconds left. He made the first free throw and missed the second and the Quakers tied it on a Jack Eggleston put back with one second remaining to force the extra period.
The Dragons took a 37-24 lead to intermission, due in large part to Tramayne Hawthorne (Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire). The junior had 16 of his career-high 18 points in the first half and knocked down four three pointers as Penn packed in a zone to try and take Elegar out of the game. Elegar was limited to just seven field goal attempts, but the senior still managed a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. He also blocked four shots and had three steals.
Colds finished with 18 points and was 6-for-9 from behind the three-point stripe. The Dragons defense held the Quakers to just 31 percent shooting and forced 17 turnovers. Drexel shot 43 percent from the floor, but shot well from long range. Colds and Hawthorne combined for all 10 of the Dragons three-pointers in the game. Penn's Brian Grandieri led all players with 23 points and added 10 rebounds.
Drexel has its home opener on Sunday Nov. 11 against the U.S. Naval Academy at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in the first round of the Philly Hoop Group Classic.
