Owls Defeat London Leopards in Final Exhibition Tune-up

PHILADELPHIA - Junior center Kevin Lyde scored 18 points and hauled down

a game-high 15 rebounds to power the Temple University men's basketball

team to a 78-60 win over the London Leopards in the Owls' second and

final exhibition game tonight at the Liacouras Center. Temple will

officially open the 2000-01 campaign next Monday, when the Owls host

Delaware in a first-round game of the Preseason National Invitation

Tournament.

Lyde, who did not participate in the Owls' first exhibition game,

logged 31 minutes, connected on 7-of-12 field goal attempts, was a

perfect 4-for-4 from the foul line and blocked three shots. Junior guard

Lynn Greer was also instrumental in the victory, scoring 17 points and

passing for a game-high seven assists. Senior guard Quincy Wadley and

junior forward Alex Wesby each tallied 11 points for the Owls and

freshman center Carlton Aaron added 10 as Temple had five players score

in double figures.

"Kevin (Lyde) exceeded my expectations tonight," said Temple coach John

Chaney, "but I shouldn't be surprised, because he's among the best

rebounders in the country. He's become our go-to' player on the inside

without question."

The Owls overcame an early 5-2 deficit on a steal and lay-up by Wadley

at the 17:40 mark of the first half. A 9-0 run beginning with a foul

shot by Greer at the 14:55 mark and ending with a 15-foot jumper by

sophomore Ron Blackshear at 11:44 put Temple up 18-9, but the Leopards

responded with a 10-0 run of their own to tie the score at 22 with 6:28

remaining in the half. A three-point field goal by Wesby got the Owls

back on track at the 6:10 mark and the winners were never again

threatened. Two more treys by Wesby, the first at the 2:39 mark and the

second just two seconds before the horn, gave the Owls a 40-28 margin at

the break.

In the second half, Temple ran the lead to 19 points at 47-28 on a

three-pointer by Wadley with 18:30 to play. The Owls cruised from

there, expanding the margin to 23 at 78-55 on a pair of foul shots by

Lyde with 1:15 remaining. Maurice Robinson, who played his college ball

at Oklahoma State, and Rashod Johnson, a Western Michigan alum, paced

the London club with 18 and 15 points, respectively.

"They're a very good team and Robinson shot the ball very well," added

Chaney. "They gave us the best tune-up we could have, because their guys

are older than our kids and showed a lot of experience."

Temple University Athletics