Temple University Athletics
HAWKINS SETS TEMPLE RECORD WITH 28 POINTS TO LEAD OWLS TO 57-47 WIN AT FORDHAM IN MEN'S BASKETBALL
2.4.04 | Men's Basketball
Hawkins, who topped the 20-point mark for a school-record 13th straight game, led the Cherry and White on an 18-1 run midway through the second half, turning a 40-32 deficit at the 11:18 mark to a 50-41 lead with just under four minutes to play. The Owl guard, who connected on seven-of-11 attempts in the final 20 minutes, tallied nine of the team's points during that spurt while sophomore Micheal Blackshear, not known for his scoring prowess, added six of his career-high eight points.
Hawkins, who leads the A-10 and ranks fourth nationally in scoring (24.2 ppg.), broke the record for consecutive games with 20-or-more points set by Bill "The Owl without a Vowel" Mlkvy during the 1950-51 season.
Fordham, which had lived by the three-point shot during the first half, connected on just two Mark Jarrell-Wright treys (11 points) over the final 11 minutes, the last coming with 25 seconds to play. Senior Michael Haynes, who tallied 16 points in the opening stanza, nailing four long three-pointers, was held to just one "three" in the final 20 minutes. He also missed becoming the 29th player to reach the 1000-point plateau by one point.
It was not so easy for the Owls and Hawkins, in particular, in the first half. After taking over as the nation's leader in fewest turnovers (9.5 tpg.) at the start of the week, the Owls played their sloppiest 20 minutes of the season. TU, which entered the game riding a streak of six games with under 10 turnovers, committed 11 miscues in the stanza. Hawkins, one of four Owls with two turnovers in the half, hit just two-of-11 shots (1-8 3-pointers).
Fordham scored 11 points off those Temple turnovers to take a 24-21 lead at intermission. It marked just the third time since the Rams joined the A-10 in 1995 that they led the Owls at the half. First-year head coach Dereck Whittenberg was hoping to ride that advantage to the team's first win over Temple since 1981.
The second half started out with Fordham and Hawkins trading baskets as the Temple standout found his range, scoring his team's first seven points. Following one of his three treys that cut the Ram lead to 32-28, Hawkins stole the ball at mid-court and drove the lane, getting fouled hard by Mushon Ya'Akoski. Freshman Dustin Salisbery then shoved Ya'Akoski away from Hawkins and was whistled for a technical foul.
The teams traded free throws and then Jermaine Anderson (11 points, six assists) scored five points to help extend the Rams' margin to 40-32. That was when the Owls awoke.
Freshman Tyreek Byard started the 18-1 run with a follow-shot. He was fouled on the play and converted the free throw to cut the deficit to five. Blackshear, who had the best game of his Temple career, hit a lay-up off an assist by Mardy Collins (12 points) to make it 40-37 with 9:53 remaining. Hawkins then drained a three-pointer to tie the game, and ran off two more quick baskets, the second a double-pump slam with 7:26 left to put the Owls ahead for good 44-40.
Blackshear, who has been seeing more and more time with each game, grabbed 13 rebounds, tying Salisbery for the most by a Temple player this season. He also posted career highs in steals (5) and minutes played (30). Hawkins also matched his season high with eight boards, helping lead Temple to a decisive 47-24 advantage on the glass.
The Owls kept three streaks alive with the win. They upped their streak to 29 straight wins when out-shooting their opponent. It was also the 56th straight time TU has won when holding its foe under 50 points. Finally, it marks the 18th straight win over Fordham.
Now Temple will travel to St. Bonaventure to take on the Bonnies on Saturday afternoon (Noon/CSN/WPHT 1210 AM).
