Temple University Athletics
OWLS HOLD SPIDERS TO BUILDING- LOW POINT TOTAL IN 69-30 A-10 VICTORY
2.22.06 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA -- Temple's defense smothered visiting Richmond at the Liacouras Center Wednesday evening, holding the Spiders to a building-low point total in a 69-30 victory that improves the Owls record to 11-1 at home. Senior point guard Mardy Collins scored 22 points and sophomore guard Mark Tyndale posted 17 on seven-of-seven shooting in the Owls' 63rd straight win when holding its opponent under 50 points.
The Spiders went scoreless for the opening 6:42 of the game before going scoreless again for the first 12:08 of the second stanza. The visitors also attempted just two free throws in the game, converting both attempts with just three seconds remaining. Richmond's 30 points marked the lowest total for an Owl foe since a 39-27 Temple win at West Chester on December 3, 1974. It was the Spiders' lowest total since February 1, 1946, a 31-25 loss to Virginia Tech.
All 14 available players saw action for the Cherry & White, which took a 6-5 series lead with the win. Junior guard Dustin Salisbery, who is day-to-day with a sore back, watched courtside in street clothes.
Temple (15-10, 8-6) made 51 percent (26-51) of its shots, including a 38.9 percent (7-18) mark from behind the arc. Richmond (11-15, 4-9) made just 26.7 percent (12-45) of its field goal attempts, including a dismal 13.8 percent (4-29) mark from long range. The Owls out-rebounded the Spiders, 38-20, and scored 21 points off 12 UR turnovers.
Richmond, which was obviously hoping for improved performance in the second half after trailing by 21 points at the break, turned the ball over on its first trip down the floor en route to a twelve minute scoreless drought. The Spiders scored their first points after intermission when a Kevin Steenberge lay-up registered a 52-16 score with 7:52 remaining. The Owls, who continued to impose their will in the late stages with reserves on the floor, achieved their largest lead of the game, 41 points (69-28), on an Anthony Ivory lay-up with 11 seconds on the clock.
Temple wasted little time taking control after the opening tip. The Owls scored the contest's first points on a Collins slam dunk with just three seconds expired and proceeded to add an additional 12 more unanswered to take a 15-0 lead. The home squad had the hot hand early, making five of its first six shots. Meanwhile, Richmond missed its first five attempts from the field and committed four turnovers before registering a single point.
Jermaine Bucknor snapped the Spiders' scoreless streak with a jumper at 13:18. Temple answered right back with a Collins jumper to initiate a 13-5 run to take a 28-7 advantage with 7:39 remaining before the break. The visitors reduced the deficit to 16 points twice before the Owls scored the final four points of the opening stanza to enter the locker room at the midpoint with a 35-14 advantage.
Temple shot 51.9 percent (14-27) in the first half, including a 44.4 percent mark (4-9) from behind the arc. Richmond made 30 percent (6-20) of its field goal attempts and a dismal 15.4 percent (2-13) from long range. The Owls scored 14 of their first half points off turnovers, as the Spiders committed seven miscues. Richmond had more turnovers than points for the first 11:14 of the game.
Steenberge was the lone Richmond player in double figures, scoring 15 points
Temple returns to the hardwood this Saturday versus top-ranked Duke at the Wachovia Center. Tip-off is slated for 2:30 p.m. in the nationally-televised (ESPN) contest that will mark the 24th meeting between the Owls and Blue Devils since 1931, with Duke holding a 14-9 advantage in the series.
