Temple University Athletics
TEMPLE SEASON ENDS AT VIRGINIA TECH, 60-50, IN NIT FIRST ROUND
3.15.05 | Men's Basketball
BLACKSBURG, VA -- Hall of Fame coach John Chaney returned to the Temple sidelines after a five-game suspension only to be denied his 500th win at the school by upstart ACC newcomer Virginia Tech, 60-50, in front of 7,416 raucous fans at the Cassell Coliseum Tuesday night. The Owls end their season at 16-14 while the Hokies, playing in the postseason for the first time since 1996, advance to the second round of the NIT.
Poor shooting and lack of rebounding led the Owls downfall. Temple connected on just 17 of 53 shots (32.1%) and allowed 21 offensive rebounds. Junior All-America Mardy Collins, who led the Owls with 16 points and a career-high 13 rebounds for his fifth double-double, connected on a mere six of 19 from the floor. Freshman Mark Tyndale was not much better, making just three of 12 attempts.
The Owls' two big men, junior Keith Butler and sophomore Wayne Marshall combined for two points and seven rebounds. Butler fouled out of the contest, playing just 18 minutes and attempting one shot.
Still, with all of their flaws, the Owls were able to stay in the contest due to a solid defensive effort. The team's match-up zone gave ACC Coach of the Year Seth Greenberg's Hokies fits all night. VA Tech, which tied for fourth place in the ACC regular season standings, made just 18 of 55 shots (32.7%) on the game. The Hokies, however, were able to get to the foul line, hitting 16 of 27 attempts and drained eight three pointers.
Zabian Dowdell led three double figure scorers with 16 points for VT. Carlos Dixon added 15 points and nine rebounds while Coleman Collins posted a double-double (11 points, 13 rebounds).
Both teams struggled early in the contest, before the Owls opened up an 11-3 lead on a Collins lay-up at the 12:29 mark. The Hokies did not take their first lead until Jamon Gordon midcourt steal and subsequent lay-in gave them a 17-16 lead with 6:33 to play in the half.
Tech, which made two of its first 13 three-point attempts, drained its final four of the half, the last two in the midst of a 8-2 run over the final 2:39 to make if 31-26 at intermission.
Dowdell hit six points in an 8-0 run midway through the second half that put Tech ahead 46-37 with 7:28 remaining.
When it looked as if the Hokies would pull away Antywane Robinson and DaShone Kirkendoll nailed consecutive treys to make it a one-possession game again (46-43, 4:33 to play). Coleman Collins answered with two free throws and Dowdell connected on a three-pointer to push the margin back to eight, 51-43.
After Mardy Collins made two from the charity stripe, the Hokies hit six straight from the line to give them their biggest lead, 57-45, with just under a minute remaining. The Owls got no closer than eight in the final minute.
Robinson, who tallied 14 points, was the lone Temple player to shoot above 50 percent, hitting four of seven from the field (4-6 3PT).
The loss was the first for Temple in its 10 meetings against Virginia Tech. The Hokies had been member of the Atlantic 10 Conference from 1995-96 through 1999-2000 with Temple winning all seven meetings during that five season stretch.
