Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Rider
Hawthorne Leads Drexel Past Rider, 76-70
12/27/2008 7:11:52 PM | Men's Basketball
Lawrenceville, N.J. – Tramayne Hawthorne scored 21 points, including 16 in the first half, as Drexel defeated Rider, 76-70. The Dragons shot a season-high 46 percent from the floor and made 11 of its final 15 free throws in the final four minutes to earn the non-league road win.
Drexel (3-6) trailed by two early in the second half, but went on an 11-2 run to take the lead for good. Samme Givens tied it at 38-38 with a put back with just under 17 minutes left in the game. Gerald Colds scored Drexel's next seven points, including five in a row, to put the Dragons ahead 45-40. The Broncs (6-4) could get no closer than five points the rest of the way as Drexel made 12 of its 24 shots from the floor in the final half. Colds scored all 13 of his points in the second half.
Rider jumped out to an early lead as the Dragons struggled from the floor in the early going. Drexel made just one of its first 10 shots from the floor as the Broncs opened up an 11-point lead in the first half. The Dragons closed the half with one of their best stretches of the young season. Drexel outscored Rider, 18-7, over the last 3:22 of the half as Hawthorne found his stroke. The senior scored 16 of Drexel's final 20 points in the half and knocked down four three-pointers. He closed the half by coming up with a steal, then later in the possession faking a three-pointer and driving to the basket. His lay-up at the buzzer tied the game at 34-34.
Hawthorne finished 5-for-12 from the floor and made all seven of his free throw attempts. Evan Neisler had another solid game for the Dragons. The junior scored 14 points, had seven rebounds and blocked three shots. Freshman Samme Givens tied a career-high with 12 rebounds, including six on the offensive end. As a team, Drexel outrebounded the Broncs, 42-30.
Justin Robinson led the Broncs with 20 points. Novar Gadson added 15, while Ryan Thompson, Rider's leading scorer, was held to just 12 points.
The Dragons next game is on New Year's Eve against Saint Joseph's. Game time is set for 5 p.m. at the Palestra.
