Temple University Athletics
Tyndale's Career-High 33 Points Goes For Naught As Owls Fall To Colonials, 84-72
2.17.07 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 17, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC - It was an afternoon Dionte Christmas and the Temple Owls would like to forget. The sophomore standout struggled for the second straight game, scoring just five points, and the Owls went without a field goal for over 11 minutes in the second half in falling to George Washington, 84-72, at the Smith Center Saturday.
While Christmas, who missed his first 10 shots en route to a two-of-14 shooting day, struggled, teammate Mark Tyndale turned in another stellar performance. The junior guard scored a career-high 33 points, hitting 12-of-16 field goals, and made a career-high five steals to pace the Cherry and White.
Senior Dustin Salisbery connected on six of 13 from the field in posting his eighth 20 point game of the season. He made just one basket over the final 19 minutes, however, as he suffered a cut in the webbing between the third and fourth fingers of his right hand. Similar to Christmas' injury in the Duquesne game, Salisbery's wound, which occurred by hitting the rim, needed just five stitches to close.
It was an historic day for the Colonials, in particular Carl Elliott. The senior guard recorded the first triple-double in Colonial history, compiling a team-high 17 points along with game-highs of 12 rebounds and 10 assists. He led a balance attack that featured five GW double-figure scorers.
It was also the 300th win in the 32-year history of the Smith Center. Ironically it came against Temple, a team that now owns a 17-4 record in the building.
The Owls led 45-44 at the 17:34 mark of the second half following a Tyndale three-pointer, one of just three (out of 20) treys in the contest for Temple. George Washington then held the Cherry and White without a field goal until the 6:06 mark and built a 62-54 lead during that stretch.
A Tyndale steal and dunk broke the GW run and cut the margin to six points. A mini-Colonial run capped by an Elliott basket pushed the margin to 11, 71-60, with 3:14 to play.
The Owls cut the lead to five, 75-70, on another Tyndale dunk with 1:05 to play. Salisbery then stole the ball on the inbounds play, but his pass in the lane to Tyndale resulted in a turnover. Elliott then closed out the game going seven of eight at the line in the final minute.
Temple shot 23 of 33 from the line (69.7%) for the game, but was beat on the boards and to loose balls, especially in the second half. GW (16-8, 7-5 A-10) out-rebounded Temple, 26-10, in the second half and 40-29 for the game.
The Owls (11-14, 5-7 Atlantic 10) next travel to The Palestra to take on Saint Joseph's on Thursday (8:00 p.m./CSTV/1210 AM).
