Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO RUTGERS IN SEASON OPENER, 59-53
11.24.02 | Men's Basketball
Temple (0-1) could point to several reasons for the defeat, including a 41-33 deficit in rebounding, less than 36 percent field-goal shooting efficiency and 18 turnovers. Rutgers (2-1) made 20 turnovers of its own, but put up more shots than the Owls, 56-42, and finished with a higher overall shooting percentage.
Both teams started slowly, but Rutgers took a 6-0 lead on a pair of three pointers by Coleman and Rick Shields. The Owls leveled the score on a free throw by David Hawkins at the 15:03 mark of the first half and took their first lead at 10-9 on a pair of free throws by Glenn Elliott at the 12:29 mark. The lead exchanged hands four times and was tied twice over the following seven minutes. A three-pointer by Coleman at the 4:55 mark put the Scarlet Knights up 20-18 and Rutgers never trailed thereafter. RU held a 30-24 halftime advantage on Mike Sherrod's short jumper at the horn.
Early in the second half the Knights extended the margin, building it to double figures (36-26) on a Coleman lay-up with 15:29 remaining. Herve Lamizana scored on a lay-up and was fouled at the 12:59 mark, and his conversion of the three-point play closed out a 13-2 run. Lamizana's lay-up with 7:58 left gave the Rutgers its largest lead of the game at 51-33.
From there, the Owls began a torrid comeback that fell just short. A steal by Nile Murry led to a short jumper by Maurice Collins that pulled the Owls to within 12 at 51-39 with 6:20 to play. The Temple defense then forced a turnover, and Alex Wesby's three-point field goal at the 5:48 mark reduced the deficit to single digits, 51-42. The Owls cut the lead to four (57-53) on a free throw by Hawkins at the 1:05 mark, but it was as close as they would get. Hawkins missed the ensuing foul shot and tried for force a shot in the lane that was blocked by Lamizana. Coleman's two free throws with 16 seconds left sealed it for Rutgers.
The Owls will play six consecutive road games (at Wake Forest, South Carolina, Charlotte, Penn, Penn State and Illinois) before returning to the Liacouras Center against Indiana on Dec. 28.
