Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS TO TARNISH THE GOLDEN GOPHERS IN NIT QUARTERFINAL CONTEST THURSDAY EVENING AT THE LIACOURAS CENTER
3.26.03 | Men's Basketball
The winner of Thursday's game will play the victor of Wednesday's Georgetown at North Carolina contest in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday, April 1. The championship and consolation games of the tournament are scheduled for Thursday, April 3.
Temple, after beginning the season with 0-5 and 3-11 records, has won 11 of its last 13 games. The Owls are the only men's basketball team in Philadelphia still scheduled to hit the hardwood after both Saint Joseph's and Pennsylvania lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday, March 21.
The Owls and Golden Gophers are meeting for the fifth time in a series that dates back to 1938, with each team having won two contests.
Temple is coming off a 61-53 victory over Rhode Island in a second round game before a raucous crowd of 7,214 at the Ryan Center in Kingston. Junior Brian Polk scored a game-high 19 points on seven-of-14 shooting, including four three pointers, playing the entire 40 minutes. He was joined in double digits by freshman Mardy Collins, who deposited 12 points playing the entire 40 minutes as well. The win was the Owls eighth straight over the Rams.
Minnesota is coming off a 84-70 win over Hawaii at home on Monday. Maurice Hargrow scored a game-high 22 points to pace the Gophers. UM is led in the scoring column by forward Rick Rickert who, at 6-11, 206 pounds, has a 15.8 ppg. scoring average and has attempted 109 (39-109) three-pointers. The Gophers rank sixth nationally in blocked shots per game (6.3) and have five players listed at 6-8 or above.
The Owls have a 20-11 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 MSG.
