Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Hofstra
Rodgers Leads Drexel Past Hofstra, 63-56
1/3/2009 4:59:53 PM | Men's Basketball
Hempstead, N.Y. – Scott Rodgers scored a career-high 25 points as Drexel defeated Hofstra, 63-56 in a Colonial Athletic Association game on Long Island this afternoon. It was the third straight win for the Dragons who improved to 1-1 in the CAA and 5-6 overall. The Pride dropped to 9-4 on the season and
1-1 in the CAA.
Drexel led for the entire game and never trailed in the contest. When Gerald Colds hit a pair of free throws at the 7:22 mark of the second half, the Dragon lead swelled to 11 points. Hofstra tried to make a run late in the game, as Cornelius Vines hit three three-pointers down the stretch. The Pride pulled to within four points twice in the final minute, but the Dragons made five free throws in the closing minute to ice the contest.
The game was a defensive struggle in the early going as each team only had two points in the first five minutes of the game. With the score tied 2-2, Rodgers nailed a three-pointer and on the next possession, he hit another one and was fouled. He converted to make it a four-point play and Drexel never looked back. Drexel went to the half ahead, 24-18, despite shooting just 30 percent from the floor. The Drexel defense held Charles Jenkins, the Pride's top scorer, without a point in the first half, and Hofstra was held to 24 percent shooting (7-for-29) in the first 20 minutes of play.
Rodgers finished the game with six rebounds and four assists. He was also 4-for-6 from long range. Jamie Harris added 14 points and had a career-high five steals. Evan Neisler chipped in with 10 points and five rebounds. The Drexel starters accounted for all but three points in the game.
Vines led the Pride with 14 points. Hofstra outrebounded the Dragons, 45-34, and had 19 offensive rebounds, but scored just 11 second chance points.
The Dragons conclude their six game stretch away from home on Monday night against James Madison in Harrisburg, Va. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet.
