SLOW START DOOMS MEN'S BASKETBALL IN 60-46 LOSS AT SOUTH CAROLINA

COLUMBIA, SC --  With junior co-captain Mardy Collins and sophomore center Wayne Marshall not in the starting lineup for failing to wear their hats to the game, Temple (1-2) never got on track in falling at South Carolina, 60-46 Saturday evening at the Colonial Center.  Collins, who played 34 minutes, led the Cherry and White with 12 points and nine steals.  Freshman Mark Tyndale, who struggled with his shot (5-20), topped the Owls in scoring with 13 points.

"There are certain rules that I have.  You have to wear your skull caps in basketball season and you have to wear your gloves," said head coach John Chaney. "It may be simple to you (media), but it is a major problem with me when youngsters push my button."

The Gamecocks (3-0) never trailed in the contest and used their quickness to dominate the taller Owls on the glass by the tune of 52-23. USC opened up an 8-3 lead before Collins and Marshall entered the game at the first media timeout.  But the damage was done as the Owls never looked fluid on the offensive end.

"We lost our chemistry not having those two guys on the floor, that hurt us," explained Chaney.

"It was hard to get into a rhythm since I am not used to coming off the bench," added Collins, who had started all 65 of his previous collegiate games.  "We never found our rhythm.  We shot horrible from the field.  We did not pass the ball good.  Guys were going one-on-one. We missed a lot easy shots. We missed free throws.  It was everything."

South Carolina, which had struggled from the perimeter its first two games, passed the ball effectively around the Temple zone, finding its inside players for easy baskets.  Senior Carlos Powell, who led all scorers with 22 points, weaved his way inside for 16 in the first half.  Sophomore forward Renaldo Balkman came off the bench to score four of his 10 points in a 7-0 run that put the Gamecocks ahead 20-7 with just 10 minutes to play in the half.

The Owls did not come closer than eight points the remainder of the contest.

"We shot more shots than them but they were bad shots -- individual shots," said Chaney.   "That happens when you do not make good passes and use good judgment."

Temple, which had averaged 16 assists entering the game, had just five in the contest.  Collins, who alone was dishing eight assists per game, was credited with just one assist.

The Owl point guard did record a career-high nine steals, tying Pepe Sanchez (2/13/00 vs. Maryland) for the second most in school history.  Only Mark Macon, who made 11 steals against Notre Dame (1/29/89). had more in an Owl uniform.

For the game, Temple connected on just 19-of-60 from the field (31.7%) and a mere three-of-23 from behind the arc (13%). Free throw shooting was equally as dismal (5-13, 38.5%).

If not for Collins' thefts, which led to eight of his 12 points, the score may have been as lopsided as the rebound totals. 

Besides Powell, who also had a game-high 13 rebounds, and Balkman, Tre Kelley added 11 points.

Temple returns home to host Arizona State Tuesday night (7:00 p.m./CN8/WPHT 1210 AM) at the Liacouras Center.

Temple University Athletics

SLOW START DOOMS MEN'S BASKETBALL IN 60-46 LOSS AT SOUTH CAROLINA

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