Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
#20 Louisville
Gerald Colds Scores 20 as Dragons Upset No. 20 Louisville, 52-46
12/14/2010 11:20:34 PM | Men's Basketball
Box Score
Louisville, Ky. – Gerald Colds scored a season-high 20 points and made three of his four free throws down the stretch as Drexel upset No. 20 Louisville, 52-46. The win knocked Louisville (8-1) from the ranks of the unbeaten and handed the Cardinals their first ever loss at the KFC Yum Center. It was the fifth straight win for the Dragons, who improved to 7-1.
Louisville raced out to a seven-point lead in the early going of the second half. The Cardinals went on a 10-0 run after Drexel scored the first point of the half and led 33-26. Gerald Colds' jumper finally broke the drought. The Dragons fought back and went ahead at the 10:22 mark on a Givens lay-in, but again the Cardinals answered and went ahead on a Preston Knowles dunk at the 8:28 mark. Givens scored on the next possession which sparked a 6-0 run that put the Dragons up by five and gave them the lead for good.
The Dragons' defense, which played well the entire contest, tightened up even more down the stretch. Drexel allowed just one field goal over the final eight minutes. Colds scored five points down the stretch, all from the foul line. The Dragons, who struggled from the stripe the majority of the night, managed to sink seven from the line in the final eight minutes to hang on for their first win against a nationally-ranked team since 2006. The Dragons defeated No. 23 Syracuse during the 2006-07 season.
The first half was played at Drexel's pace and the Dragons responded by taking a two-point lead at the break, 25-23. Chris Fouch nailed a long three-pointer with a second remaining to give the Dragons the lead. There were five lead changes and five ties in the half. The Dragons shot just 36 percent in the half, but grabbed nine offensive boards, which led to 11 second-chance points. They also made five three pointers in 11 attempts, including two by Colds, two by Fouch and one by Derrick Thomas.
Colds sank a season-best three three-pointers on the night and was 7-for-10 from the line. The Dragons once again owned the backboards, outrebounding the Cardinals, 46-26. Daryl McCoy and Samme Givens each grabbed 10 boards, while Frantz Massenat and Dartaye Ruffin each added six. The Dragons also held the Cardinals to just 32 percent shooting, and to only 29 percent in the second half.
Chris Fouch added 10 points, but was held to just 3-for-10 shooting as the Cardinals focused on the Dragons' sharpshooter. Preston Knowles and Peyton Silva each scored 13 points for Louisville.
The Dragons are back in action on Saturday afternoon at St. Francis (Pa.). Game time is set for 1 p.m.
