The Triangle

Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Evan Rosen Frank Elegar scored a career-high 33 points and grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds but missed several key free throws down the stretch in the Dragons' 67-63 loss to Delaware.

Rivalry games bring out the true character of every team. The Dragons were in control for the first 30 minutes, but the Blue Hens took over down the stretch in their 67-63 win at the Daskalakis Athletic Center Jan 5.

Tempers flared from the outset as Herb Courtney and Randy Oveneke were issued technical fouls just over a minute into the game for getting into an altercation. This set the tone for the physical play that was to follow.

Drexel's offensive game plan involved just getting Frank Elegar the ball. Unlike most teams this season, Delaware (6-7, 3-0 CAA) single-teamed Elegar, and as long as the Blue Hens did not foul, he made them pay. Elegar dominated the post going 13-21 from the field, but his Achilles heel came from the foul line as he missed 10 free throws.

"You don't double team a guy that's 7-17 from the foul line. All you've got to do is foul him," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said. "He should've had almost 50 points. I don't want to take their game plan away, but we could've won the game if he just made his foul shots."

Despite his troubles, Elegar finished with career highs in points (33) and rebounds (17).

"We don't think one single player can win a game," Courtney said. "As long as we shut down the other players, we'll let Frank do his thing."

None of the "other players" hit more than three field goals. Tramayne Hawthorne had just three points and was 0-7 from beyond the arc. Evan Neisler and Jamie Harris were shutout and Scott Rodgers was the only Dragon to connect on a 3-pointer.

"I don't think Tray [Hawthorne] ever forces a shot," Flint said. "If you're watching the game, you don't say, 'Man, he's really forcing his shots.' If you're open, you've got to make a couple. I mean he was 1-for-10. You've got to tell him to keep shooting it because he's open. I mean you want the kid to play with some confidence."

After Courtney and Oveneke got tangled up, the officiating took over the game. There were 22 fouls called in the first 11 minutes, 13 of which were on the Dragons (8-7, 1-2 CAA). Two more technical fouls were called by the end of the game, one on Elegar and the other on the Delaware bench.

Continued...

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