Temple University Athletics
SALISBERY SCORES 23 AS TEMPLE BEATS LA SALLE, 68-52
1.14.06 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- When Dustin Salisbery scores, Temple is tough to beat. The Owls proved this axiom once again on Saturday, as the junior guard poured in a season-high 23 points to lead the Cherry and White to a 68-52 Atlantic 10 win over La Salle at the Liacouras Center. It was his third game scoring over 20 points this season, all Temple victories, and boosted his season average in TU wins to 16 ppg.
The Lancaster, Pa. native hit for 15 points in the second half as the Owls (8-6, 2-2 A-10) outscored La Salle 38-17 in the stanza. The Explorers (10-4, 2-2), which opened the game by shooting 7-for-10 from three-point range, struggled from long distance and in taking care of the basketball in the frame. La Salle committed 12 turnovers in the half (19 overall) and shot just 2-for-15 from long range the rest of the game.
Hall of Fame head coach John Chaney adjusted after the impressive shooting display early on, extending his trapping zone and insisting that his players keep the ball out of the middle. They responded and earned their fourth straight win over La Salle and the 14th in the last 16 meetings.
"We changed the defense to the trapping and we cut off the middle," Chaney said. "They had to go corner-to-corner and side-to-side. Once the ball gets to the middle, you're in trouble."
Early on, however, it looks like the Explorers would pick up their first win at the Liacouras Center since the building opened in 1996. Darnell Harris, who led La Salle with 17 points, scored all his points in the first half as the Explorers built as much as an 11-point advantage in the opening minutes.
Temple did not regain the lead until the 13:51 mark of the second half on a freshman Dionte Christmas (six points) foul shot. From that point on, it was all Temple, as senior Mardy Collins scored eight of his 17 points the rest of the way.
Two of the conference's brightest stars were on display in Collins and La Salle senior Steven Smith. Collins held the edge in points, 17-15, but Smith worked hard for every one of his. He shot 7-for-11 from the field and grabbed seven boards, but the Owls' zone permitted more perimeter looks, especially early on.
"Smith is a tough player," Chaney said. "He can put it on the floor, he can shoot over you, he can go around you. He's a very fine player."
The Cherry and White managed to win handily despite poor shooting from Antywane Robinson and Mark Tyndale. Robinson was just 1-for-8 from behind the arc and Tyndale had a 1-for-9 performance after scoring 26 points on Wednesday at St. Bonaventure. Take away the pair's 5-for-23 showing and Temple shot a respectable 19-for-41 (46.3%). For the game, the Owls were 24-for-64 (37.5%).
Wayne Marshall continued to give Chaney quality minutes off the bench, scoring eight points and pulling down a season-high seven caroms in 26 minutes.
"He's just about where we want him to be right now," Chaney said. "In a couple of weeks, I'm hoping he can give us around 30 minutes."
Temple travels to Dayton on Wednesday (7 p.m.) in the first of two A-10 road games. The Owls continue on to Massachusetts on Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN.
Photos courtesy of Greg Carroccio of Sideline Photos. To view images from today's game, visit www.sidephotos.com.
