Philadelphia, Pa.-On a night when the rims in the Daskalaskis Athletic Center were as cold as the frigid temperatures outside, Georgia State fell to Drexel 57-33. The Panthers were held to just 29.2 percent from the field and were limited to just four free throw attempts.
Junior Eric Buckner led the Panthers with eight points, four rebounds and two blocked shots as he moved within three of the school's single season top ten with 37 this season.
Georgia State (8-11, 3-6 CAA) lost for the fifth straight time, four of which have come on the road against teams that have combined for just one home loss this season. Drexel improved to 8-1 at home this season with the win.
The 33 points scored were the fewest in the history of the program, surpassing the 38 scored at Utah in the Preseason NIT in 2003.
"You have to give Drexel a lot of credit tonight," commented head coach Rod Barnes. "I thought our guys did a good job on defense in the first half and made them force some shots. However, in the second half, they were able to work for some open baskets and were able to pull away."
Georgia State was playing its fourth road game in 12 days, and the fatigue showed.
"We're weary right now, you could see it in a lot of different areas," said Barnes. "Drexel is very physical and hard-nosed. I can't make any excuses. We tried to fight, but there was just nothing in the tank."
Drexel (13-6, 5-4 CAA) was led by Samme Givens who finished with 16 points and 14 rebounds. Givens is the lone player in the CAA averaging a double-double a game.
Gerald Colds and Frantz Massenat scored 15 and 10 points respectively for the Dragons, who only trailed 2-0 just over a minute into the game.
The Dragons opened the game on a 12-3 run over the first 15 minutes of the game, holding GSU to just one basket as the Panthers were 1-of-14 to start the game. State managed to shoot just 23.1 percent in the first half and were 0-of-5 from three-point range.
Buckner helped give the Panthers some momentum going into the intermission, scoring six straight points late before senior Marques Johnson hit a jumper with 50 seconds remaining to cut Drexel's lead to 18-13.
Drexel was equally as cold in the first half, shooting just 30.4 percent and was 4-of-11 from the free throw line in the opening period.
Senior Dante Curry nailed the first of his two three pointers with 15:28 to go in the second half to cut Drexel's lead to nine, the closest State got in the second half. Curry finished with six points.
Marques Johnson finished the game with eight points in a team-high 31 minutes.
Georgia State will return home to face Old Dominion on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Tickets for that game, as well as the Panthers remaining home games can be bought by calling 1-866-GA-STATE or by going online to GeorgiaStateSports.com.
Live radio coverage is available on WRAS-FM 88.5, 30 minutes prior to tip. Live statistics and live video can be followed at GeorgiaStateSports.com.
--GeorgiaStateSports.com--
