Spring Break
Hot shooting leads men's basketball in win over Rider
Mike Mazzeo
Issue date: 1/11/08 Section: Sports
Despite being held scoreless in the first half, Tramayne Hawthorne never stopped shooting - and in the second half his shot started falling.
Hawthorne hit five second-half 3-pointers as Drexel (7-5) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat Rider (8-5) 73-66 Dec. 27.
He finished with a team-high 15 points after going 0-of-3 from the field in the first half. All of his 13 shots came from behind the three point line.
"My team had a lot of confidence in me," Hawthorne said. "I was making a few [threes] earlier in the year and I've been struggling lately, but they kept believing in me and telling me that if I'm open, let it go. And my shot started falling."
Hawthorne came off the bench for the second straight game since injuring his back against Temple.
"[There] really isn't much of a difference to me whether I'm a starter or coming off the bench," Hawthorne said. "I just want to come in, play my part and help my team win."
The Broncs led 44-34 at the 17:40 mark, but the Dragons went on a 19-9 run capped by a pair of Hawthorne threes to knot the game at 53 with 8:30 to play.
After the teams exchanged a pair of baskets, a three by Harris Mandel put Rider up 58-55 - but Hawthorne was just getting started.
He combined with Gerald Colds to hit four consecutive threes encompassing a 12-2 run that gave Drexel its first lead in more than 24 minutes.
Hawthorne re-tied the game at 58 with a corner three and Colds hit back-to-back shots from long distance putting the Dragons up 64-58 with 3:49 remaining.
Mike Ringgold converted on a layup to bring the Broncs within four, but Hawthorne once again rose to the occasion with a three from the left wing to increase the lead back up to seven.
Colds had 14 points for the Dragons. He combined with Hawthorne to make all nine of Drexel's three-point field goals, seven coming after halftime. The Dragons attempted 27 for the game.
"Coach always tells us if you're open, shoot it and they were falling for us in the second half," Hawthorne said.
Hawthorne hit five second-half 3-pointers as Drexel (7-5) overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to defeat Rider (8-5) 73-66 Dec. 27.
He finished with a team-high 15 points after going 0-of-3 from the field in the first half. All of his 13 shots came from behind the three point line.
"My team had a lot of confidence in me," Hawthorne said. "I was making a few [threes] earlier in the year and I've been struggling lately, but they kept believing in me and telling me that if I'm open, let it go. And my shot started falling."
Hawthorne came off the bench for the second straight game since injuring his back against Temple.
"[There] really isn't much of a difference to me whether I'm a starter or coming off the bench," Hawthorne said. "I just want to come in, play my part and help my team win."
The Broncs led 44-34 at the 17:40 mark, but the Dragons went on a 19-9 run capped by a pair of Hawthorne threes to knot the game at 53 with 8:30 to play.
After the teams exchanged a pair of baskets, a three by Harris Mandel put Rider up 58-55 - but Hawthorne was just getting started.
He combined with Gerald Colds to hit four consecutive threes encompassing a 12-2 run that gave Drexel its first lead in more than 24 minutes.
Hawthorne re-tied the game at 58 with a corner three and Colds hit back-to-back shots from long distance putting the Dragons up 64-58 with 3:49 remaining.
Mike Ringgold converted on a layup to bring the Broncs within four, but Hawthorne once again rose to the occasion with a three from the left wing to increase the lead back up to seven.
Colds had 14 points for the Dragons. He combined with Hawthorne to make all nine of Drexel's three-point field goals, seven coming after halftime. The Dragons attempted 27 for the game.
"Coach always tells us if you're open, shoot it and they were falling for us in the second half," Hawthorne said.
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