Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL DEFEATS DREXEL 68-59 IN NIT OPENING ROUND CONTEST AT THE LIACOURAS CENTER
3.18.03 | Men's Basketball
Senior Alex Wesby led the Owls with 20 points, nine rebounds and three steals. Brian Polk, who came off the bench to grab eight rebounds and Maurice Collins scored 11 points a piece. David Hawkins, a member of last season's NIT All-Tournament team, added 10 points and six rebounds.
Drexel reserve Kenell Sanchez scored nine of his team's first 13 points and finished as the team leader with 16 points. Tim Whitworth and Eric Schmeider added 13 and 12 points, respectively. Robert Battle grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds to go with his nine points.
With the score knotted at 4-4, Polk entered the game and converted on his first two field goal attempts, giving the Owls a 9-6 advantage. Drexel responded with a 9-0 run to grab a 15-9 lead halfway through the first period. After Temple center Keith Butler committed his second personal foul at the 10:02 mark, Drexel took the ball inside, scoring their next 10 points from the paint.
A Schmieder 3-pointer at the 2:48 mark gave the Dragons their largest lead of the game, 30-23. Wesby responded with a lay-up to cut the lead to five. After a Drexel miss, Polk grabbed the rebound and threw an outlet to Murry, who spun around a Dragon defender to hit a short jumper. Murry then became the beneficiary of a Hawkins steal at midcourt as he converted on a lay-up, cutting the margin to 30-29.
Temple's run extended into the second half, as a Hawkins lay-up gave the Owls their first lead in more than 10 minutes. Collins and Wesby combined to score eight consecutive points before a Hawkins free throw capped the 17-0 scoring spurt that produced a 40-30 lead. The Owl defense ultimately held Drexel scoreless for a 7:39 stretch that carried over from the first stanza.
Schmeider kept Drexel within striking distance, scoring the Dragons' first five points of the half. Temple's lead dwindled to 42-35 before an Antwayne Robinson jumper sparked a 10-2 Temple run that iced the Temple victory. Drexel would get no closer than the final margin of victory for the rest of the game.
Temple recorded 10 steals to gain an advantage in the turnover column (14-8). The Owls also won the battle on the boards, outrebounding Drexel 43-37.
