Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL TO MEET BOSTON COLLEGE IN NIT FIRST ROUND CONTEST AT THE PALESTRA FRIDAY EVENING
3.20.03 | Men's Basketball
The winner of Friday's game will play Rhode Island in a second-round game at a date and site to be determined. The Rams defeated Seton Hall 61-60 at home Wednesday evening.
The Owls and Eagles are meeting for the fourth time on the hardwood in a series that dates back to 1963, with Temple having won the three prior contests. The teams last met on December 8, 1992, when the Owls defeated Boston College 79-72 in the season opener for both teams.
Temple is coming off a 68-59 victory over city foe Drexel in an NIT opening round game at the Liacouras Center Tuesday. The Owls trailed 30-29 at the break but assembled a 17-0 run spanning from the 2:48 mark of the initial stanza (23-30) to the 15:21 point of the second half (40-30) to ensure the win. 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 the 2002 NIT All-Tournament team, added 10 points and six rebounds.
Hawkins has played all 40 minutes in four straight games and in six of the last seven contests.
Boston College is coming off a 90-78 victory over Fairfield in Bridgeport, Conn. last Tuesday. Troy Bell deposited 28 points to lead four Eagles in double-digits. Bell, the 2002-03 Big East Player of the Year and Second Team USBWA All-American, leads the club with a 25.5 points-per-game scoring average.
The Owls have an 18-11 all-time record in the NIT. Temple placed third in the NIT last season, defeating Syracuse 65-54 in the consolation game after losing to eventual champion Memphis 78-77 in the semifinal. The Owls have won two NIT titles, in 1938 and 1969. Current radio color analyst and Temple Hall of famer John Baum was captain of the 1969 squad under coach Harry Litwack that defeated Boston College 89-76 in the championship game at Madison Square Garden.
