Drexel University
Georgia State
Hawthorne Leads Dragons Past Georgia State, 58-51
1/16/2008 9:34:59 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia, Pa. – Tramayne Hawthorne (Steelton, Pa./Steelton-Highspire) poured in a career-high 23 points as Drexel defeated Georgia State at the Daskalakis Athletic Center, 58-51. Hawthorne snapped out of a slump with four three-pointers, including three in the second half as the Dragons improved to 9-9 overall and 2-4 in CAA play. The Panthers dropped to 4-12 on the season and 1-5 in the conference.
The Dragons, who never trailed in the game, led by five at halftime, and held Georgia State to just 27 percent shooting from the floor in the half. Drexel increased their lead early in the second half with a 14-3 run and took control of the game. Hawthorne had eight points during the run, including five straight as the Dragons went up 40-27. The lead swelled to as many as 15 points with just over eight minutes to play before Georgia State mounted a comeback. The Panthers scored 14 of the next 16 points and cut the lead to 54-51 with 2:49 to play. That was as close as they would get as the Dragons' defense held the Panthers without a point for the rest of the game. Frank Elegar (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) scored on a lay-up with under a minute left and Hawthorne iced it with a pair of free throws.
Elegar finished with 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting from the floor. He also had six rebounds and four blocked shots. Justin Billingslea led Georgia State with nine points. The Dragons shot 44 percent from the floor, including 52 percent in the second half, and made 11 of their 13 free throws. Drexel entered the game shooting just 61 percent from the line.
The Dragons continue their three-game homestand on Saturday with a noon tip-off against Hofstra. The game can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet.
