Drexel University
Georgia State
Neisler, Spencer Lead Dragons Past Georgia State, 53-50
1/10/2009 6:53:20 PM | Men's Basketball
Atlanta, Ga. – Evan Neisler scored a game-high 18 points as Drexel defeated Georgia State, 53-50. The Dragons (6-8, 2-3 CAA) held off a furious Panthers' rally in the closing seconds to come away with the victory.
Georgia State's (4-12, 2-3) James Fields missed a three-pointer with 12 second left, but the rebound went to Joe Dukes, who fired another three that went off the rim. Ousmane Krubally grabbed another offensive board for the Panthers and was fouled. He went to the line, missed the first and intentionally missed the second. Drexel's Tramayne Hawthorne grabbed the rebound and Drexel escaped the Georgia State Sports Arena with the win.
The Dragons took the lead for good when Neisler picked up an offensive rebound and scored on a reverse lay-up and got fouled. Neisler missed the free throw, but Kenny Tribbett came up with the offensive board and got fouled. The junior made both free throws to make it 53-49 with 2:08 left. Dukes made one of two from the line with 40 seconds left to cut it to three. On the next possession, Drexel missed a three-point attempt by Tramayne Hawthorne that would have put the game away and Georgia State got possession and a chance to tie it.
The Dragons led 30-23 at intermission after Gerald Colds closed the half with a long three-pointer. The Drexel defense held the Panthers without a point for the first 5:15 of the game, but only led 2-0 at that point. Leon Spencer led the Dragons with 10 of his career-high 12 points in the half. Spencer finished with 12 points and was 6-for-6 from the floor and also had six rebounds.
Jamie Harris and Gerald Colds each played 40 minutes as the Dragons were without the services of Scott Rodgers. The senior did not make the trip to Atlanta due to a death in his family. Harris handed out five assists without committing a turnover, while Colds finished with 11 points.
Georgia State was held to just 34 percent shooting in the game. Dukes led the team with 13 points. The Panthers were only 2-for-15 from the line and 8-for-15 from the line.
The Dragons return home and face Hofstra on Wednesday night at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The game begins at 7 p.m.
