Spring Break
Drexel beats Penn in OT thriller
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Sports
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Freshman Gerald Colds could not have been more clutch in his first collegiate game, which was possibly the most exciting game in the history of the Drexel-Penn rivalry.
After blowing a 17-point second-half lead, Drexel (1-0) managed to escape the Palestra with a 67-59 overtime win in its season opener over the University of Pennsylvania (0-1), only its fifth in 20 attempts and first since the 2002-03 season.
Colds shared a team-high 18 points with Tramayne Hawthorne, who eclipsed his career high and picked up four assists and three steals. Frank Elegar notched a double-double with 14 points 11 rebounds and four blocks for Drexel, but was double teamed virtually the entire contest.
"It shows that our guys have character," Elegar said. "Guys like Gerald Colds stepped up and made big shots. Scoring isn't really my priority. I just want to go out there and win, no matter how bad I play."
Down the stretch when the Dragon veterans were struggling, it was the freshman that picked up the slack and kept Drexel hanging with Penn.
Colds hit two huge 3-pointers in overtime, including one with 2:10 left in the extra session that gave the Dragons the lead for good.
"The guys played with some poise," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said. "The younger guys more than the older guys, but we didn't panic."
Despite the great play by the freshman, the game should not have reached past regulation.
With 19 seconds left in the second half and the Dragons up by three, Scott Rodgers had a chance to put the game away, but missed the front end of a 1-and-1.
The Quakers got the rebound and Penn's Aron Cohen missed a three to tie the game, but Michael Kach got the offensive rebound and was fouled with 4.4 seconds left. Kach made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second.
Drexel just stood around and watched.
The Quaker's Brian Grandieri got the rebound and missed a layup, but Jack Eggleston got the board and threw up a tough layup that went in with 1.4 seconds remaining, tying the game at 52 and sending Penn fans into euphoria.
After blowing a 17-point second-half lead, Drexel (1-0) managed to escape the Palestra with a 67-59 overtime win in its season opener over the University of Pennsylvania (0-1), only its fifth in 20 attempts and first since the 2002-03 season.
Colds shared a team-high 18 points with Tramayne Hawthorne, who eclipsed his career high and picked up four assists and three steals. Frank Elegar notched a double-double with 14 points 11 rebounds and four blocks for Drexel, but was double teamed virtually the entire contest.
"It shows that our guys have character," Elegar said. "Guys like Gerald Colds stepped up and made big shots. Scoring isn't really my priority. I just want to go out there and win, no matter how bad I play."
Down the stretch when the Dragon veterans were struggling, it was the freshman that picked up the slack and kept Drexel hanging with Penn.
Colds hit two huge 3-pointers in overtime, including one with 2:10 left in the extra session that gave the Dragons the lead for good.
"The guys played with some poise," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said. "The younger guys more than the older guys, but we didn't panic."
Despite the great play by the freshman, the game should not have reached past regulation.
With 19 seconds left in the second half and the Dragons up by three, Scott Rodgers had a chance to put the game away, but missed the front end of a 1-and-1.
The Quakers got the rebound and Penn's Aron Cohen missed a three to tie the game, but Michael Kach got the offensive rebound and was fouled with 4.4 seconds left. Kach made the first free throw and intentionally missed the second.
Drexel just stood around and watched.
The Quaker's Brian Grandieri got the rebound and missed a layup, but Jack Eggleston got the board and threw up a tough layup that went in with 1.4 seconds remaining, tying the game at 52 and sending Penn fans into euphoria.
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