Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BASKETBALL TROUNCES FORDHAM, 77-45
1.12.05 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- Temple went on an 18-point run and held Fordham without a field goal for over 12 minutes in the first half en route to a 36-15 intermission lead and a 77-45 victory Wednesday evening at the Liacouras Center. Sophomore Dustin Salisbery scored a game-high 17 points on seven-of-10 shooting as 10 players posted points in leading the Owls to their 20th straight win over the Rams.
Fordham, which starts three freshmen, was unable to account for Temple's size and was befuddled by the Owls' defense to the extent of 21 turnovers. Temple made 14 steals and established a significant advantage in all facets of the game, including points in the paint (26-16), points off turnovers (24-10), second chance points (18-11) and fast break points (11-4). Temple shot 46.4 percent (27-58) from the field while the Rams managed to connect on just 28.6 percent (16-56) of their attempts
After taking a commanding, 21-point, halftime lead, Temple (6-6, 2-0) increased its advantage to 40 points (64-24) with 10:12 remaining on an Antywane Robinson tip-in. With the contest in cruise control, the Owls played the final eight minutes with primarily reserves on the floor
Junior All-America candidate Mardy Collins scored eight points and had six assists but exited the contest with 9:53 remaining to snap his double-figure scoring streak at 29 games.
Freshman guard Marcus Stout was one of three visitors in double digits, posting14 points to pace Fordham (5-9, 1-2) in the scoring column.
Temple struggled from the field early as both teams were mired in a sluggish tempo. The Owls connected on just one of their first eight shots and made two of five initial free throws before Salisbery added some necessary energy and drained a three-pointer with 12:36 on the clock to register an 8-7 deficit. Dion Dacons, who more than doubled his previous career-high with nine points, connected from behind the arc two minutes later to give the Owls their first lead, 10-8, in the midst of an 11-0 run aided by a stifling defense. The Rams, after a Jermaine Anderson three-pointer at 13:26, did not make an additional field goal until the junior once again tweaked twine from behind the arc with 1:17 remaining before the break.
Leading 14-10 after an Anderson free throw, Temple went on an 18-point run capped by a Wayne Marshall jumper at 2:07 to lead 32-10 and all but ensure Fordham 31st straight loss in the City of Brotherly Love.
Temple's largest lead before the midpoint was 23 points (34-11) as the Owls rebounded from early shooting troubles to make 46.4 percent (13-28) of their shots. Fordham shot a woeful 18.2 percent (4-22) prior to intermission and committed 12 turnovers as Temple made eight steals. The home squad also dominated the visitors in the paint in the opening stanza to a tune of 14-2.
The 32-point win is Temple's largest margin of victory since a 37-point pasting (85-48) of Duquesne at the Liacouras Center on January 9, 2002.
Temple returns to the hardwood this Saturday, January 15, in a nationally televised (ESPN2) contest at Maryland tipping-off at 2:00 p.m. The game will mark the seventh meeting between the schools dating back to 1948 with the series tied 3-3.
