Temple University Athletics
SOPHOMORES STEAL THE SHOW ON SENIOR DAY AS TEMPLE BEATS ST. BONAVENTURE, 75-71
2.23.02 | Men's Basketball
The Owl faithful saluted seniors Lynn Greer, Kevin Lyde, Alex Wesby, Ron Rollerson and Jay Jameson, but it was a pair of sophomores who stole the show as Brian Polk led the Owls with 23 points and David Hawkins scored 19.
The Owls led by as many as 18 in the first half, but allowed St. Bonaventure to creep back into the game in the second half. The Bonnies cut the game to two points with 16 seconds left in the game before Greer hit Hawkins in transition for a dunk to put the game out of reach.
The win avenged the Owls 93-74 loss to the Bonnies on Jan. 16. Temple though had a rought afternoon, committing 19.
"We will never be comfortable playing St. Bonaventure," Owls coach John Chaney said. "We played out of control and without and discipline. We always have problems with small quick teams; we do a lot better against bigger teams."
Polk went eight of 15 from the field including seven three-pointers and five rebounds while Hawkins scored 19 points with nine rebounds, including the game clinching dunk, to seal the victory for the Owls. Temple now trails Saint Joseph's by one game for first place in the Atlantic 10 East.
Lyde had a monster game with 11 points and a career-tying 15 rebounds. Lyde also had two assists and three blocks shots to go with his fourth double-double of the season.
Greer, who is the all-time leading scorer in Liacouras Center history, scored 10 points in his final home game in a Temple uniform, but struggled only shooting one-of-nine from the floor. Greer did the bulk of his damage from the free throw line hitting seven of 10 from the charity stripe, including four in the last minute of play.
Wesby also scored 10 points before fouling out in the second half. Wesby shot four-for-seven from the field and had two assists and two blocks in 27 minutes of play.
The Owls next play at Dayton on Feb. 27 and then conclude their regular season against Saint Joseph's at The Palestra on March 3.
