Feb 19, 2003

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Brian Polk scored 15 points in his first start of the season and Maurice Collins hit three key shots down the stretch as Temple beat Rhode Island 69-64 Wednesday night.

Collins, who missed eight of his first 10 shots, made his final three, including a 3-pointer from the left wing with 53 seconds left that gave Temple a 64-58 lead. He finished with 14 points.

There were 10 lead changes and 10 ties with neither team leading by more than eight points.

Alex Wesby and David Hawkins each had 14 points for the Owls (9-13, 6-5 Atlantic 10).

Reserve Dawan Robinson had 17 points for Rhode Island (15-8, 7-5), while Lazare Adingono added 15 and Dustin Hellenga 11.

Polk, starting in place of injured freshman Antywane Robinson, scored eight of Temple's 10 points at the start of the second half and put the Owls ahead for good at 53-51 with a 3 with 6:42 left. Rhode Island tied it at 56 on Robinson's 3 with 5:07 left but never regained the lead.

Collins hit a 3-pointer with 5:28 left, a 15-footer with 3:05 left and another 3 with 53 seconds remaining.

Temple has won seven of nine games after a 3-11 start, the Owls' worst under coach John Chaney.

Rhode Island lost 71-68 to Temple on Jan. 22.

Antywane Robinson is expected to miss two-to-three weeks after spraining his ankle against North Carolina State last Saturday.