Temple University Athletics
HAPPY NEW YEAR!! TEMPLE MEN WIN AT INDIANA, 59-50
1.3.04 | Men's Basketball
Senior David Hawkins, who tallied 17 of his game-high 23 points in the first half, led the way for the Owls. Plagued by foul troubles in the second half, Hawkins still out-performed Indiana sophomore guard Bracey Wright, who topped IU with 15 points. Wright entered the game ninth in the NCAA in scoring with a 22.9 average while Hawkins was right behind him in 10th place (22.6 ppg.).
"We just tried our best to shut him down (Wright), since we knew their offense runs through him," stated Hawkins on the team's defensive effort. Wright made just 3-of-17 from the field.
Sophomore Mardy Collins looked comfortable running the Cherry and White attack at the point guard slot. Collins, who moved from the two-guard role to fill the void left by Mario Taybron's ineligibility, joined Hawkins in double figures with 14 points. Collins, who had just two turnovers in the contest, played the full 40 minutes for the fifth straight game. He currently ranks third in the nation in minutes per game (39.1 mpg.).
But it was the play of the Temple bench that Hall of Fame coach John Chaney credited most for the win.
Junior Nehemiah Ingram followed up his strong effort at Miami with an even better performance against the Hoosiers. The 6-8 forward out of Milledgeville, Ga. posted career highs in minutes played (34) and rebounds (10) in relief of starter Keith Butler (5 fouls, 9 minutes).
Sophomore Micheal Blackshear, who saw his first action since being suspended in early December, exploded for a career-high 12 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end. Blackshear, who played 28 minutes, also battled for many other rebounds, helping the Owls pull down an amazing 57 rebounds.
"They (Ingram and Blackshear) were outstanding," added Chaney on his frontcourt reserves.
"We applauded them after the game, 10 and 12 rebounds. We just hope that we can get that kind of effort from them every game out," added Hawkins.
Freshman Tyreek Byard also had his best outing in a Temple uniform. The 6-5 guard hit for a career-high seven points, two more than his total for the first eight games. He also played smothering defense on Wright in a box-and-one setting the final six minutes.
"Tyreek (Byard) hit a couple of big baskets for us," extolled Chaney. He played smart. Just played the song like it was supposed to be played."
Besides all the individual highlights, the game was one of the ugliest in Temple history. And that says a lot. The winning team shot an awful 19-of-71 from the field (26.8%), which was slightly better than the Hoosiers effort (14-61, 23.0%). Indiana also launched 39 three-point attempts, but connected on just eight (20.5%).
"This was the top. This was the ugliest win," said Chaney after the game. "We just did not shoot the ball well."
The Owls last 13 points came at the free throw line as the final three minutes lasted a lifetime. Freshman Dustin Salisbery capped the team's march to the line hitting four straight in the final 25 seconds to close out the contest.
Indiana, 6-5, never got closer than five points after Temple extended its lead to 10-3 on a Hawkins' three-pointer with 13:53 to play. The Owls upped their margin to a game-high 13 points on an 8-0 run to make it 27-14 with 1:13 remaining in the half. Hawkins, who capped the run with two free throws, actually led the Hooisers himself, 17-14, at that point. Two free throws and a three-pointer by Donald Perry, closed the score to 27-19 at intermission.
Temple opened the lead back to double figures, 30-19, by the first media timeout of the second half as the Hoosiers offense continued to struggle against Temple's zone. Hawkins then picked up two quick fouls at the 14-minute mark, and took a seat on the bench with the Owls leading 30-20.
The game then slowed to a crawl as both teams struggled offensively over the next six minutes. Indiana cut the lead 36-31 on a Wright three-pointer with 7:46 to play despite hitting just 3-of-11 from the field. The Owls connected on a mere 2-of-13 during that span.
With Hawkins back in the lineup, Temple quickly built the margin back to a comfortable nine points, 42-33, with 4:36 left as the senior All-America candidate scored four of the team's points in the mini-run.
A strong baseline move and lay-up by Byard and a put-back by Ingram bolstered the lead to 46-36 with 2:26 on the clock. Then the free throw march began.
Temple, now 4-5 on the season, will open its Atlantic 10 Conference season on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m.) at George Washington. The Colonials, 6-6, 0-1, lost their A-10 opener at Saint Joseph's on Saturday.
