Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE MEN'S BASKETBALL DROPS 83-76 DECISION TO WAKE FOREST
12.1.02 | Men's Basketball
The most consecutive losses under John Chaney to start a season is three, which happened during the 1988-89 campaign, when the Owls opened with losses to No. 8 Missouri, Arizona and Kansas.
Josh Howard (16 points, 11 rebounds), Vytas Danelius (14 points, 14 rebounds) and Eric Williams (19 points, 10 rebounds) each posted double-doubles to lead Wake Forest before a raucous home crowd. The lone Owl to post a double-double was senior Alex Wesby, who scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. David Hawkins paced Temple in the scoring column, pouring in 20 points on 7 of 16 shooting before fouling-out with 4:04 remaining.
Temple grabbed its only lead when Hawkins scored the first points of the game with a three-pointer. Wake Forest proceeded to reel off seven consecutive points and never looked back, leading for the remainder of the contest. The Owls shot just 34 percent from the floor in the first half and allowed the Deacons to grab 26 rebounds. Wake Forest led 42-28 at the midpoint.
After the break, the Demon Deacons continued to control the game both in the paint and on the scoreboard. Wake Forest maintained an eight-to-11 point cushion for the better part of the second stanza before establishing its largest lead, 74-55, with just over six minutes remaining. The Owls outscored the Deacons 21-9 in the game's final six minutes. Temple freshman Chris Gaither hit a three-pointer at the final buzzer and the final score read 83-76 in favor of Wake Forest.
One of the game's few highlights for Temple fans was the second half shooting of freshman Antwayne Robinson. After a scoreless first half in which he failed on five field goal attempts, Robinson was six of seven from the field after the break, including five three-pointers. He finished with 17 points.
Temple wastes no time in its return to the hardwood, as the Owls face the Gamecocks at the Carolina Center in Columbia, S.C. tomorrow night (Monday, December 2) at 7:30 p.m. Although the Gamecocks have played three contests within the new building's confines this season, Monday's game is being tauted as the arena's dedication game. The Owls complete their caravan through the Carolinas with a 7:30 tipoff at Charlotte on Wednesday.
