The Triangle

Issue date: 12/5/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Karl Kuchs

Media Credit: Olivia Garrity

In the first half, Drexel bricked so many shots against its Big West opponent, it could have built a new basketball arena.

However, Scott Rodgers made a key steal and dunk with just over five minutes remaining, and the Dragons (2-1) hit key free throws down the stretch to hold off the Cal St. Northridge Matadors 55-47 Dec. 1 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Drexel guards Gerald Colds and Rodgers led the Dragons with 13 points each, and the Dragons were 11-of-13 from the free throw line, including 6-of-6 in the final 42 seconds.

Matthew Wallace led Northridge (1-5) with 12 points.

But the main storyline of the day was the horrific shooting by both teams.

Somehow, the Dragons were able to shake off shooting 23.1 percent from the field in the first half, as they finished shooting 29.1 percent for the game.

The Matadors didn't fare much better. They shot 34.5 percent from the field and just 40 percent from the charity stripe, while Josh Jenkins and Willie Galick combined to shoot 3-of-15 from the field.

Head coach Bruiser Flint said even though his team shot poorly, he was still satisfied with the win.

"Honestly man, my last school I was at [Massachusetts], we did that a lot," Flint said. "We smashmouthed you though. We didn't mind shooting 30 percent because we totally shut you down."

To make matters worse, Drexel guard Tramayne Hawthorne was 2-of-13 from the three-point line and just 3-of-17 from the field.

"I told Tray, 'You had probably two contested shots all night,'" Flint said. "The guy was wide open all night. You gotta knock them down."

A big reason they were able to overcome their horrendous shooting was because they were able to pull down 19 offensive rebounds and outrebounded Northridge 44-35 overall.

Dragons forward Kenny Tribbett, who had five of his nine rebounds on the offensive end, said even though his team missed many shots, he would not simply give up on the possession.

"It's always frustrating when you're not coming out with much, but the best thing you can do is keep going and keep on pushing through," Tribbett said. "That's what we tried to do the entire game."

Flint said getting offensive rebounds is not good enough if his players force shots inside the paint.

"They get a lot of offensive rebounds, then they don't finish," Flint said. "I actually told them I might give them the Chaz Crawford rule. 'I know you're not making any layups so just throw it right back out.'"

Flint also said he was concerned his players would try to make plays on their own without utilizing their teammates on offense.

"Take what the defense gives you," Flint said. "If it's not there, don't try to create anything. There are no Kobes [Bryant] or LeBron [James] on this team."

The win improves Drexel's record to a perfect 2-0 at the DAC. The loss drops Northridge to 0-5 on its six-game road trip.

The Dragons host George Mason Dec. 3 for their first conference game of the year.

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