Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL CLINCHES SECOND PLACE IN A-10 EAST AND SECURES OPENING ROUND BYE BY DEFEATING LA SALLE 68-58 AT THE LIACOURAS CENTER
3.6.03 | Men's Basketball
Temple made 11 steals while La Salle committed 13 turnovers in a game that featured nine lead changes and four ties. All of the Owls scoring came from their starters, as the Explorers held an 18-0 advantage in bench points. Four of Temple's starters reached double figures, led by junior David Hawkins who deposited 19 points. Junior Brian Polk added 17 points and freshmen Maurice Collins and Keith Butler contributed 15 and 11, respectively. Butler also grabbed nine rebounds, to finish one board shy of his third double-double of the season.
The Explorers got on the scoreboard first and held the lead for the majority of a first half, establishing five point advantages three times in the first 10 minutes. An Alex Wesby jump shot at 8:31 registered an 18-17 score and gave the home squad its first lead of the contest. Temple entered the locker room at the midpoint with a 32-31 advantage.
After the break, Temple went on an 8-0 run to establish a 40-31 buffer on a Hawkins' three-pointer with 15:49 remaining. La Salle bounced back, however, scoring 13 of the game's next 17 points to tie the contest at 44 with 11:25 showing on the clock after a Dzaflo Larkai lay-up. Less than two minutes later, the Explorers regained the lead on a Rasheed Quadri trey that registered a 47-46 score. A pair of Hawkins free throws with 6:54 to go gave TU a 53-51 edge and the home club led for the remainder. La Salle cut the lead to one, 57-56, on a Gary Neal three-pointer with 4:28 on the clock but Temple proceeded to go on an 11 point run to take a 68-56 advantage and secure the victory.
Temple shot 41.1 percent (23-56) from the field on the evening, while La Salle deposited 36.8 percent (21-57) of its attempts.
Temple returns to the hardwood this Saturday in a 12 noon contest at No. 11 Xavier. The Owls will then travel to Dayton, Ohio to meet Richmond in an Atlantic 10 Tournament quarterfinal contest at approximately 2:15 on Thursday, March 13.
