Temple University Athletics
RUTGERS PUTS AN END TO TEMPLE'S SEASON, DEFEATING THE OWLS, 76-71, IN THE FIRST ROUND OF THE NIT
3.17.04 | Men's Basketball
Douby, who scored 18 of his career-high 28 points, drained six-of-11 three-pointers, taking shots well behind the NBA three-point distance. He scored five of RU's points in an 11-0 run that gave the Scarlet Knights a 50-44 lead with 11:30 to play.
Senior All-America David Hawkins, who scored a team-high 25 points in his final game wearing the Cherry and White, connected on the Owls' next possession, ending a 5:42 scoreless stretch (0-8 FGs). The TU captain struggled from the field (8-21 FGs, 2-11 3PT) as he was being double-teamed throughout the contest. He compensated by getting his teammates involved, dishing a team-high six assists. He also led a solid Owl defense with four steals.
Mardy Collins had a strong finish to his sophomore season with a 22-point outing. While Hawkins struggled from the perimeter, Collins was burying seven-of-14 shots (3-6 3PT).
Rutgers, however, connected on 51.1 percent (23-45) from the field (10-21 from three-point range) and placed four players in double figures. Ricky Shields had a solid effort for RU, tallying 14 points while posting game highs in assists (8) and rebounds (8). Herve Lamizana added 13 points while Marquis Webb added 10 points.
The game, which was tightly-contested throughout, turned bizarre with 5:23 to play when Chaney was hit with a technical foul. While trying to explain that Hawkins had been fouled two minutes earlier in the act of shooting, the legendary coach was called for being out of the coaches' box. Rutgers was leading 64-58 at the time, but Douby drained both free throws off the technical and Webb hit a jumper on the subsequent possession to extend the margin to 68-58.
Hawkins dunked on the next Owl possession and, after a RU miss, the nation's fourth-leading scorer connected on two free throws to cut the margin to six, 68-62, with three minutes on the clock.
Rutgers, which shot 20-of-24 (83.3%) from the line, kept Temple at bay by hitting five-of-six from the charity stripe and looked to have the game iced leading 75-68 with 14 seconds to play.
Then the game went even further into the realm of the bizarre. Collins was fouled on a three-point attempt with six seconds remaining. A frustrated Rutgers fan threw a rolled up piece of paper at the official. A technical foul was called, putting the Owls on the line for five free throws. Hawkins made one of the two technicals. Collins then hit his first two from the line to make it 75-71. He intentionally missed the third, but the Owls were unable to control the rebound. Lamizana ended the game by making one of two free throws.
The Owls finished the season with a 15-14 record. Rutgers advances to the second round of the NIT with a 17-12 mark.
And Hawkins, one of the most prolific scorers in Temple history, ends a brilliant career. The 6-5 guard became just the sixth player in school history to score 700 points in a season. He ended with 709 points for his senior campaign and an Atlantic 10 and Big Five leading 24.4 scoring average. His 2,077 points ranks third all-time at TU and ninth in A-10 history.
