Temple University Athletics
#12 ILLINOIS DOWNS TEMPLE, 75-60, IN MEN'S BASKETBALL
11.29.03 | Men's Basketball
For the second straight game the Owls struggled from the field, particularly early as the Illini jumped out to a quick 11-1 lead just two minutes into the contest. It was sophomore guard Deron Williams who led the way early for IU, not All-American Dee Brown. Williams scored eight of the first 11 points, and dished an assist to Brown on a three-pointer to account for the others.
Mardy Collins, who struggled the most with his shot (3-of-13), ended the run with a lay-up to make it 11-3, but Illinois would then use a 12-2 run to take a commanding 20-point lead, 27-7, with 9:11 to play in the half. Williams dished three of his five assists in that run and also drain a three-pointer.
The Owls would cut the lead to 37-25 at intermission as freshman guard Dustin Salisbery would score all nine of his points in the 18-10 TU run.
Temple finished the half hitting just 6-of-23 from the field (26.1%), and only 1-of-7 from three-point range (14.3%). Illinois, on the other hand, utilized an offense aptly named "zone buster" to nail 13-pf-24 from the field (54.2%). The Illini also assisted on 11 of their 13 baskets with Williams (5) and Brown (4), arguably one of the top backcourts in the nation, leading the way.
Bruce Webber, in his first year at the Illinois helm after spending the previous five seasons guiding the Salukis of Southern Illinois, did not let his charges ease up in the second stanza. The Illini roared out of the gate in the second half, using an 11-4 run over the first five minutes to take its biggest lead of the contest, 50-29.
The rest was history as Hawkins tried to carry the team, scoring 15 of the Owls next 18 points to cut the lead to 61-47 with 5:44 to play. Illinois then sealed the victory with an 8-1 run capped by a Brown trey with 4:09 remaining for a 69-48 advantage. All that was left was the final margin
"I just do not have enough firepower on this ball club," lamented Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney. "David can not carry us for the rest of the season. He is one great player. There is no question about it. One of the greatest players that I have had. Not only great because of his skill, but because of his will. There is something inside of him that just won't quit."
Temple, which turned the ball over just nine times, dished just five assists on the day. Illinois (3-0) had three players dish five assists and dealt 22 on 27 baskets for the contest.
The Owls, off to a 0-2 start for the third straight season, will look to get their first win of the season when they travel to Rutgers on Wednesday, December 3 (7:30 p.m./No TV/WPHT 1210 AM).
