Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL LOOKS TO EVEN ITS RECORD IN KEY DIVISIONAL SHOWDOWN WITH RHODE ISLAND
2.10.04 | Men's Basketball
Senior David Hawkins continues to be the hottest player in the nation. The 6-5 guard leads the league and ranks fourth nationally in scoring with a 24.2 average. Against SBU on Saturday he tallied 25 points to extend his school-record consecutive games streak of 20-or-more points to 14. He also grabbed a season-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
Sophomore Micheal Blackshear has been equally impressive on the backboards. The 6-6 forward has come off the bench to pull down double figure rebounds in three straight games. Sophomore guard Mardy Collins has also been playing strong offensively, talllying double figures in eight straight games.
Rhode Island, which dropped the first meeting to Temple, 58-53, on January 14, will have its full compliment of players available for this contest. In the first meeting, the Rams were without the services of Brian Woodward (13.5 ppg.), their second-leading scorer. Woodward was sitting out a one-game suspension. Junior Dawan Robinson leads URI and ranks sixth in the A-10 with a 17.7 scoring average.
Temple comes into the game riding a two-game win streak, tying its longest of the season. The Owls have defeated the Rams nine straight times and five in a row in Kingston. The last time Temple lost at Rhode Island was February 16, 1997, an 85-82 decision.
