Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE SUFFERS TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT AT #18 ALABAMA
12.11.04 | Men's Basketball
TUSCALOOSA, AL -- Normally cool and in command Mardy Collins, the leader of the Temple Owls, lost his composure for a brief moment. The moment, however, proved costly as it resulted in a technical foul and triggered a five-point play, giving 18th-ranked Alabama a 69-62 lead with just under four minutes to play. The Crimson Tide (8-1) held off the upset-minded Owls (3-4) for a 75-71 win in front of a frenzied crowd of 11,751 at the Coleman Coliseum Saturday night.
"I thought it was going to be Frank & Jesse (James), but it was the Dalton brothers," said Temple coach John Chaney referring to the officials. "I was not angry with him (Collins) because he knew that the guy kicked the ball off his foot. He just felt all night long that we kept getting a little bit of the shaft.
"He does not normally do that, but that was worth a five-point play and we lost by four. I would not blame a kid for putting that on his back. That kind of frustration happens sometimes to young people."
Collins, who was brilliant throughout a third straight 40-minute performance, complained to referee Kerry Sutton on a play at mid-court with 4:06 remaining and the score 64-62 in favor of the home team. The ball appeared to go off the foot of an Alabama player, but Sutton signaled possession to the Tide. Sutton quickly called the technical and senior guard Earnest Shelton drained both free throws to put Alabama ahead 66-62.
A three-pointer by freshman walk-on Justin Jonus at the 3:45 mark made it a seven-point advantage (69-62) for Alabama.
The Owls, who had just clawed their way back from an 11-point deficit (58-47, 10:43 left), and had a chance to tie just prior to the technical, could not get closer than the final margin in the closing minutes
Freshman Mark Tyndale scored a career-high 22 points to lead Temple. The Owl guard connected on six-of-19 from the field and three-of-nine from three-point range. He was also fouled on two three-point attempts, one coming in the final minute, and converted all six of those free throws (7-of-8 for the game). Tyndale also led the team in rebounding with seven and assists with three.
Collins scored 17 points and led the Owls' second half defensive charge, recording four of his game-high six steals in the final 20 minutes. Salisbery, who missed two free throws that would have tied the game at 62, tallied 16 points on six-of-10 shooting. He also made four-of-seven from behind the arc.
Temple, which came into the contest averaging just under six three-pointers per game, torched the Alabama zone for a season-high 12 treys. Freshman DaShone Kirkendoll, known for his perimeter range at Stebbins High in Ohio, connected on two three-pointers and had eight points in the game while playing 18 minutes - both easily career-highs.
"He had a lot of poise for a freshman," said Chaney on Kirkendoll. "He took the right shots and he missed the right shots. That sometimes does not happen. He played good defense and got himself involved in the boards a couple times. I was very happy with him, not surprised."
Chaney was displeased with the play of big men Keith Butler and Wayne Marshall. The Owls frontcourt tandem, in foul trouble most of the evening, combined for five points and nine rebounds.
"They out-rebounded us unbelievably and officials allowed them to just climb all over us," said Chaney.. "I think that was the difference. That was the reason I took the big guys off the floor. They are no longer an engine for our team.
"They stood there with a camera in their hands taking pictures and that is not good,. They are not tough."
The Owls controlled the tempo throughout the first half, extending their zone to limit the Tide's three-point threats. UA coach Mike Gottfried, who guided his charges to the Elite Eight a year ago, countered by attacking the inside of the famed Chaney match-up zone.
Sophomore center Jermareo Davidson was the beneficiary of the Tide's push inside, tallying 12 of his 16 points in the first half, including 10 of his team's first 19 points.
A three-point play by junior Chuck Davis with 10:37 to play in the first half gave 'Bama a 24-13 lead. Then Temple kicked its man-offense in gear. A basket by Collins and three-pointers by Tyndale and Kirkendoll, three free throws by Tyndale and a long trey by Salisbery made up what would be a 15-3 run to put the Owls on top, 28-27, at the 6:44 mark.
After Davis deposited a lay-up and Shelton a three from the left baseline to put Alabama back in the lead, 32-28, Kirkendoll made a nifty steal near mid-court and broke in on a two-on-one with Collins. The southpaw pulled up at the foul-line and drained a jumper to cut it to 32-30. A Tyndale fastbreak lay-up tied the score at 32 with four minutes left in the half.
Gottfried then went to a zone, and the Owls turned ice cold.
Temple proceeded to miss its final 10 shots of the half, nine of them coming from three-point range. The Tide rolled to a nine-point lead at intermission, 41-32.
After missing their first four shots of the second half, the Owls finally had an answer to the zone. Salisbery hit a long range three-pointer at the 17:39 mark to break the drought and cut the 'Bama lead, which had grown to a high of 12 points, back to 45-36.
The teams traded baskets until the 10:43 mark when Temple went on its 15-6 run to cut it to 64-62.
Shelton, who scored 14 of his 22 points in the second half, hit five-of-11 from three-point range. Davidson (13 rebounds) and Davis (14 points, 11 rebounds) , both had double-doubles to lead the Tide on the inside.
Alabama out-rebounded Temple, 45-32, and scored 16 second chance points to the Owls' six.
"I am extremely proud of them," said Chaney. "A young team and what they showed here in this kind of environment is something special for me and we will grow from that and hope to get a little better for Wake Forest on Monday."
The Owls host the sixth-ranked Demon Deacons in front of a national television audience Monday (7:00 p.m.) Temple's women's team plays host to nationally-ranked Rutgers at 4:00 p.m.
