Temple University Athletics
DISMAL SECOND HALF DOOMS MEN'S BASKETBALL IN 78-59 DEFEAT TO NO. 25 SAINT JOSEPH'S
2.13.03 | Men's Basketball
Saint Joseph's shot an impressive 56.0 (28-50) percent in the game, including a blistering 66.7 (16-24) percentage in the second half. Temple deposited 48.4 (15-31) percent of its attempts prior to the break before making just 32.1 (9-28) percent of its shots after the intermission.
The Owls were unable to stop sophomores Delonte West and Pat Carroll, who combined to score 56 points, contributing 32 and 24, respectively. West made 13 of 19 field goals and scored 20 second half points. Carroll shot every one of his field goal attempts from behind the arc, making eight of fifteen. Junior Jameer Nelson, who entered the game with a 17.8 points-per-game scoring average, was held in check, registering just four points. Nelson, however, performed his point guard duties well, as he dished out 12 assists on the evening. Saint Joseph's owned a 24-7 advantage in the assist column.
Saint Joseph's jumped out to an early 11-2 lead and with 13:37 remaining in the first half, held an 11-point buffer after a Carroll three-pointer. Temple charged back, scoring steadily as senior Alex Wesby paced the club with 14 points before the midpoint. The Owls held a 35-31 advantage with under a minute to play before the break before Tyrone Barley hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the teams to the locker rooms with the Owls holding a 35-34 lead.
The first seven minutes of the second half were tightly contested. A Wesby free throw tied the contest at 43-43 with 13:09 showing on the clock. The Hawks proceeded to score 10 consecutive points in under two minutes to take a 53-43 lead and put the game away. Saint Joseph's ran its advantage to 24 points on two occasions in the final five minutes before exiting the premises with the 78-59 victory.
Big men proved a non-factor in the game. Temple's Keith Butler and Glen Elliott combined for one point and eight rebounds. Saint Joseph's Alexandre Sazanov and Dwayne Jones combined for one point and seven rebounds.
Wesby led the Owls in the scoring column with 20 points. He was joined in double-digits by freshman Maurice Collins, who scored 15 on seven-of-thirteen shooting.
Temple returns to the hardwood this Saturday in a nationally televised (ABC) contest against North Carolina State at the Liacouras Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 3:45 p.m.
