Temple University Athletics
COLLINS' CAREER HIGH NOT ENOUGH AS RUTGERS DOWNS TEMPLE, 77-67, IN MEN'S BASKETBALL
12.4.03 | Men's Basketball
Collins, who missed all five of his shots in the first half to lower his shooting percentage to 7-of-32 on the season (21.9%), looked like he did at the end of last season in the second stanza, draining 8-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-4 from three-point range. The 6-5 guard also led the team in rebounds (6), assists (3) and steals (4). The problem was that the Owls were unable to stop the Scarlet Knights from the perimeter. Rutgers (3-1) drained 12-of-23 from behind the three-point line with freshman Quincy Douby coming off the bench for a career-high 21 points on 7-of-11 shooting (4-6 from 3-point range).
"I am not satisfied with the stops," stated Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney on his team's defensive effort. "And trading baskets, we are not as good shooters as the people that we are playing."
The game started out much different from Temple's first two losses of the season. The Owls jumped on top quickly, 9-2, as freshman Mario Taybron, making his first collegiate start, scored all five of his points in the opening run.
Rutgers pulled even with Temple at 11-11 on a Ricky Shields (14 points) lay-up at the 13:31 mark. The teams traded baskets for the next six minutes before an 8-0 RU flurry lifted the Scarlet Knights to a 29-20 advantage with just under five minutes to play. Temple cut the margin to 29-24 on two Collins free throws, his only points of the first half, and a David Hawkins slam. Three-pointers by Marquis Webb (9 points, 8 assists) and Juel Wiggan lifted the Rutgers lead back to a comfortable 35-24 advantage. The Scarlet Knights would end the half leading by nine, 37-28.
Looking for more offense, Chaney would insert freshman Dustin Salisbery, who came off the bench for four of his 11 points in the first half, into the starting lineup for the second stanza. Salisbery scored five points, including a three-pointer with 15:58 remaining to cut the deficit to 45-38, but then Rutgers broke away. Three-pointers by Webb and Shields and two free throws by Wiggan made up an 8-0 run that pushed the margin to 15 points (53-38) and knocked the steam out of the Owls.
Collins and Hawkins (18 points), who was suffering with the flu, would score 27 of the team's final 29 points as the Owls were unable to cut the deficit under double figures the remainder of the contest. Rutgers actually increased the lead to 20 points, 77-57 with 3:28 to play, but Temple scored the final 10 points of the contest to make the score more respectable.
Rutgers won the battle of the boards, 42-26, and dished 17 assists on 26 baskets. Temple, on the other hand, dished just six assists on 23 baskets.
Chaney was pleased with the play of Keith Butler, who scored all eight of his points in the opening 10 minutes as the Owls were forcing the ball inside. Still bothered by a nagging ankle injury that sidelined him for the Villanova game, Butler swatted a career-high seven shots in the contest.
Prior to the game Chaney suspended Micheal Blackshear for a violation of team rules.
The 6-6 sophomore forward, who grabbed six offensive rebounds while starting the Villanova game in place of an injured Butler, will be under suspension until at least the end of the fall semester, according to the Owls coach.
Temple, now 0-3 for the second straight season, will next play Drexel in the opening game of the Big Five Classic on Saturday, December 6 at The Palestra. Tip-off time is noon with the game being televised live by Comcast SportsNet and broadcast on radio by WPHT 1210 AM.
