TOWSON, Md. ? Gerald Colds came off the bench to score a team high 14 points and spark Drexel (12-8, 8-3) to a 60-53 Colonial Athletic Association victory over host Towson (8-15, 3-8) Saturday afternoon in the 50th meeting between the two schools on the basketball court.
The win stretched the Dragons current win streak to seven while the Tigers dropped to 1-5 at home in CAA play this season.
Colds turned the game around with 7:08 left in the first half when he hit back-to-back three pointers to start the Dragons on a decisive 9-0 run that lifted Drexel from an 18-16 deficit to a seven-point lead (25-18). Drexel held the lead the rest of the game, assuming a 32-24 margin at the break.
Two free throws by Colds with 8:52 left to play gave Drexel its largest lead, 44-32. The Tigers hung around, trimming the Dragons' lead to four (56-52 and 57-53) twice in the final minute but Towson turned the ball over each time before they could capitalize.
“We make a few crucial plays and hit a few more free throws and we win the game,” said Towson coach Pat Kennedy, whose Tigers missed 13 free throws in a 14-27 performance.
Drexel, the top free throw shooting team in the CAA, connected on 20 of 29 attempts.
The Tigers weren't much better from the field. Three of the Tigers' top four scorers ? Josh Thornton, Jarrel Smith and Troy Franklin ? combined for 12 points on 3 of 18 shooting from the floor.
Towson's Junior Hairston led all scorers with 18 points. He also collected 13 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season. He was the only Towson player in double figures.
Scott Rodgers added 12 points for the Dragons who have won nine of the last 11 games.
