Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE TO PLAY RUTGERS IN 2004 NIT
3.14.04 | Men's Basketball
This will be Temple's 15th appearance in the NIT. The Owls are 20-12 all-time in the postseason tournament, including a 7-2 record over the last two years. Temple won the NIT twice, in 1938 and 1969. TU also placed third in the NIT in 1957 and 2002.
"I am happy that we are playing and that the basketball season continues," stated Hall of Fame Temple coach John Chaney, who has guided his Owls to postseason play in all but his first season (1982-83) at the school. "Rutgers is a tough ballclub without question. They are a good team. We plan to revisit the game earlier this season in preparation for Wednesday."
The Owls are led by senior All-America David Hawkins. The nation's fourth-leading scorer, Hawkins tops the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 24.4 scoring average. He enters the NIT needing just 16 points to become the sixth Temple player to score 700 points in a season. Sophomore Mardy Collins is the only other TU player averaging double-figures in points, scoring at a 15.3 clip. Collins has scored in double figures in a personal-best 17 straight games while Hawkins has topped double figures in every contest this season, tallying 20-or-more in an A-10 high 23 games.
Rutgers is led by senior forward Herve Lamizana, a third team all-Big East selection. Lamizana leads Rutgers in rebounding (7.8) and blocked shots (2.8), and is 13th in the nation in blocked shots. The 6-10 forward averages 13.5 points per game, which is second on the team. Junior guard Ricky Shields (15.0 ppg.) leads the Scarlet Knights in scoring while freshman guard Quincy Douby, a Big East all-Rookie selection, averages 11.2 points per game. Douby led Rutgers in the regular season meeting with 21 points while Collins led Temple with a game-high 22 points.
