Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL EARNS FIRST VICTORY OF SEASON WITH 65-63 WIN AT PENN STATE
12.11.02 | Men's Basketball
Forward Alex Wesby, the lone senior on the roster, showed the Owls the way in the second half, scoring 16 points and grabbing six rebounds after Temple trailed 32-30 at the midpoint. Wesby and David Hawkins each scored a game high 19 points. The Owls substituted only once after the break, when Hawley Smith entered the game for freshman center Keith Butler with just seven seconds remaining. Butler had the best game of his young collegiate career, scoring eight points, grabbing seven rebounds and making four blocks in 31 minutes of action
The Nittany Lions shot 60 percent (12-20) from the field, including 83 percent (5-6) from behind the arc in the first half but entered the locker room at intermission with just a two point lead due to a tenacious Temple defense. The Owls forced 12 Penn State turnovers and made eight steals in an initial stanza that saw the lead change hands eight times.
After struggling from the field in the first half, Temple improved after the break, shooting 45.2 percent (14-31), including 50 percent (5-10) from three-point range. The Owls took a 47-45 lead on an Antywane Robinson tip-in with 12:21 remaining and held on for the remainder. Temple's largest lead was eight points (63-55) with 5:37 showing on the clock.
Penn State reduced the lead to two (63-61) with 0:49 seconds remaining and had a chance to go ahead in the game's final seconds after Temple committed a turnover, but Sharif Chambliss' three-pointer bounced of the rim. Hawkins was fouled on an inbounds play with :07 seconds to go and hit both free throws to seal the win. Hawkins was a perfect four-for-four from the charity stripe in the game.
For the first time this season, the Owls held the advantage in rebounding, grabbing 32 boards as Penn State managed 29.
Temple enters the last game of a school-record six consecutive road contests this Saturday, Dec. 14 with a 12 noon tip-off at No. 14 Illinois at the United Center in Chicago.
