Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL TO TAKE ON LA SALLE IN FINAL ROAD TRIP OF REGULAR SEASON
2.24.04 | Men's Basketball
Senior All-America candidate David Hawkins continues to lead the A-10 in scoring with a 23.9 average. The 6-5 guard will look to start a new scoring streak after having his 17-game stretch of 20-or-more points end at #2 Saint Joseph's. Hawkins did tie sophomore guard Mardy Collins for team scoring honors in that contest with 13 points, the 18th straight game he has led Temple in scoring.
Collins, the team's second leading scorer with a 15.0 average, has tallied double figures in 12 straight games. He also leads the Cherry and White in assists with 62 and ranks second to Hawkins (62) in steals with 43.
La Salle enters the game in fifth place in the A-10 West Division with a 5-7 league mark (10-15 overall). Sophomore guard Gary Neal leads the Explorers and ranks fourth in the A-10 with a 19.3 scoring average. Fellow sophomore Steven Smith ranks seventh in the A-10 in scoring (16.7 ppg.) and second in rebounding (8.3 rpg.). '
Temple leads the all-time series, 58-37, and won last year's meeting at the Liacouras Center, 68-58. La Salle coach Billy Hahn owns a 2-1 record against Temple as the Explorers defeated the Owls twice during the 2001-02 season. Prior to that season Temple had won 10 straight against La Salle.
