Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL TO OPEN SEASON WITH MIDNIGHT GAME AGAINST BIG FIVE RIVAL VILLANOVA
11.18.03 | Men's Basketball
Villanova, which will be missing starting center Jason Fraser due to injury and other key members due to suspensions, won last year's meeting over Temple, 70-62, at the Pavilion on New Year's Eve. Allen Ray led the Wildcats with 16 points while Mardy Colins and Brian Polk each posted 18 points for Temple. The Owls lead the series, 39-38.
Temple may be without its own center as 7-1 sophomore Keith Butler sprained his ankle in the team's exhibition win over EA Sports on Friday night. Butler, who had an MRI on Monday, is questionable for the contest.
Senior David Hawkins will again lead the Owls. Currently 23rd on Temple's all-time scoring list with 1,368 points, Hawkins averaged 26.5 points per game in the team's two exhibition wins and looks poised to show the way for the team's talented youngsters. Look for freshman Dustin Salisbery, a 6-5 guard out of J.P. McCloskey High in Lancaster, Pa., to open the season as a starter and sophomore Micheal Blackshear, a newcomer from Philadelphia's Simon Gratz High where he played under current Temple assistant Bill Ellerbee, to fill in for Butler in the starting five if the sophomore center is unable to play.
Sophomores Mardy Collins and Antywane Robinson will round out Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney's starting five.
The Temple-Villanova game will not be televised. The game can be heard over the radio on WPHT 1210 AM with Harry Donahue calling the play-by-play and John Baum providing color analysis.
To purchase tickets to the game in person stop by the Liacouras Center box office or call Ticketmaster at any Ticketmaster outlet (215) 336-2000, (856) 338-9000 or (302)984-2000, or by logging onto the web at www.ticketmaster.com. Full and partial season ticket plans to Temple basketball are also available by call 215-204-5040 or through the internet at www.owlsports.com.
