Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS RHODE ISLAND, 69-64, TO GET WITHIN ONE VICTORY OF 1,600
2.19.03 | Men's Basketball
The victory also marked the 1,599th win in the 107-year history of Temple basketball. A victory at Fordham on Sunday will make Temple only the sixth program in the history of NCAA Division I men's hoops to reach the 1,600-win plateau, joining Kentucky, North Carolina, Kansas, Duke and Saint John's.
Junior Brian Polk, in his first start of the season, registered 15 points on five-of-eight shooting and deposited four three-pointers to lead the Owls in the scoring column. Polk received the starting nod in place of freshman Antywane Robinson, who suffered a sprained right ankle last Saturday against N.C. State. Polk was joined in double figures by senior Alex Wesby (14 points), junior David Hawkins (13) and freshmen Maurice Collins (14) and Keith Butler (10).
Rhode Island had 12 assists in a tightly contested first half that featured six lead changes in the first 11 minutes. A pair of Glen Elliot free throws tied the game at 21 with 7:44 remaining. URI's Dustin Responded with a three pointer to give the visitors a 24-21 edge. The Rams increased their lead to five points before a Polk trey with 0:40 seconds remaining sent Temple to the locker room at the midpoint trailing 33-31.
Another Polk three-pointer at the 16:53 mark of the second half tied the game at 38. The Rams then went on a six-point run before Polk connected once again from behind the arc to register a 44-41 score with 12:48 on the clock. The leads changed hands five times in the next six minutes before a Butler free throw broke a tie to give the Owls a 57-56 lead with 4:38 remaining. Temple would increase its advantage to eight points with 0:36 seconds to go on a pair of Hawkins free throws before sending the Rams home with a 69-64 loss.
Rhode Island's Dawan Robinson led all scorers with 17 points.
Temple shot 47.9 percent (23-48) on the evening and made eight steals. The Rams connected on 43.3 percent (26-60) of their field goal attempts but committed 16 turnovers.
The Owls return to the hardwood the Sunday, Feb. 23 in a 12 noon contest at Fordham. The Owls have defeated the Rams 16 consecutive times, including a 82-51 drubbing at the Liacouras Center on Jan. 18.
