Temple University Athletics
NO. 3 SAINT JOSEPH'S DEFEATS TEMPLE, 83-71, BEFORE RECORD CROWD AT THE LIACOURAS CENTER
1.31.04 | Men's Basketball
Senior All-America candidate David Hawkins led Temple (7-10, 2-5) in the scoring column for the 15th time in 17 games, posting a game-high and career-high tying 36 points on 13-of-25 shooting. He was joined in double figures by Mardy Collins, who scored 21 points. The two combined to total 80 percent of the Owls' offense as they spent the entire 40 minutes on the hardwood.
Saint Joseph's led from the opening tip to the final buzzer. The Hawks established their largest advantage with 8:44 remaining in the game after a Jameer Nelson three-pointer provided the visitors a 72-43 lead. The contest had the makings of a blowout before Temple went on a late charge. A Hawkins jumper at 4:05 reduced SJU's lead to under 20 points, 73-55, as 4:05 showed on the clock. The Hawks responded by increasing their lead to 19 before the Owls went on a 15-5 run to get the deficit within 10 points, 80-71, with less than a minute to play. The Hawks made their attempts from the charity stripe down the stretch, however, to exit the building with a 12-point victory, their third straight win over the Owls.
Once again Temple struggled from the free throw line, making 44.0 percent (11-25) of its attempts, including just 27.3 percent (3-11) in the first half. From the field, the Owls tied their season-high, hitting 44.4 percent (28-63) of their shots while making 10 steals and contributing to 14 Hawk turnovers.
Saint Joseph's jumped out to a 7-0 lead, courtesy of four offensive rebounds in the game's opening minutes. Temple got on the scoreboard with 17:04 showing on the clock courtesy of a Collins jumper. The visitors responded by scoring 14 of the contest's next 21 points as a frustrated John Chaney called timeout with 13:13 remaining before halftime and SJU holding a 21-9 advantage after a Chet Stachitas trey.
After the timeout, the Hawks maintained their dominance by scoring 12 of the next 14 points to extend their lead to 22 points, 33-11, after another Stachitas three-pointer. Temple played even with its city rival for the remainder of the first half. The Owls reduced the deficit to 15 points, 41-26, after a Collins jumper at 1:09 capped a 5-0 Owl run.
Temple entered the locker room at intermission facing a 16-point deficit, 44-28, after Dion Dacons hit a jumper at the buzzer. Hawkins posted 16 of the team's points on six-of-12 shooting as the Owls combined to shoot 38.7 percent (12-31) from the field. Pat Carroll and Nelson poured in 14 and 10 points, respectively, to lead the Hawks, who shot 53.8 percent (14-26) prior to the break.
Saint Joseph's had four players score in double digits, including three that posted 20 points or better. Nelson and Delonte West each scored 21 points as Carroll contributed 20 and Stachitas 12. In total, 74 of the Hawks' 83 points were deposited by players listed as six-foot, five-inches or shorter on their roster.
Temple returns to the hardwood this Wednesday, Feb. 4, in a 7:00 p.m. tip-off versus Fordham at Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx, N.Y. The match-up will not be televised. The contest will mark the 40th meeting between the schools with the Owls holding a 30-9 advantage in victories, including 17 straight dating back to 1981.
