Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL WINS AT ST. BONAVENTURE, 61-44
2.7.04 | Men's Basketball
"Tyreek has played as well as any freshman player that we have had in some years," extolled Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. "He passes the ball. And that is what we did not have when we had three big guys on the floor."
The first half was closely contested until Temple used an 11-0 spurt over the final four minutes to take a commanding 33-17 lead at intermission. Hawkins and Collins tallied 12 points each in the first half with Collins scoring seven points in a two-minute stretch during the 11-0 run.
The Bonnies answered that with an 11-0 run to open the second half, cutting the margin to five points, 33-28, with 16:02 on the clock. Hawkins and Byard, drained three-pointers to put the Owls back ahead by double figures, 39-28. Temple extended its run to 10 straight points as Collins stole the ball at half court and laid it in and Hawkins added on a short jumper, making it 43-28.
"I think he is one of the most underrated players in the country," said Chaney on Hawkins, who moved into third place on the all-time Temple scoring list (1,828 points) during the game. "If we were doing well like we have in the past he would be recognized as one of the greatest players in the country."
Collins, who had played all 40 minutes 12 times on the season, picked up his fourth foul with 12:17 to play. The Bonnies would capitalize on Collins absence, running off 10 straight points, eight by senior Marques Green (14 points), to make it 45-39. Hawkins hit a runner and Dustin Salisbery added a free throw to bring the Owl lead back to nine, 48-39, prior to Collins' return with 7:10 remaining.
SBU, 6-14, 2-7, would get no closer than eight points the remainder of the contest.
Temple out-rebounded SBU, 45-30 with sophomore Micheal Blackshear leading the way with 11 boards off the bench. Hawkins added a season-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double of the year.
Temple, 9-10, 4-5 in Atlantic 10 play, will complete its three-game road trip at Rhode Island on February 11 (7:30 p.m.).
