March 25, 2003
Box Score
SOUTH KINGSTOWN (AP) - Brian Polk had 19 points and nine rebounds to lead
Temple to a 61-53 win over Rhode Island in the second round of the NIT on
Tuesday.
Temple (18-15) built a 55-45 lead with 2:20 to play but did not score
another field goal.
The Owls were still able to hold off a late Rhode Island rally. The Rams
pulled within three, 56-53, on a Brian Woodward 3-pointer with 1:40 to play,
but could come no closer. Temple sank six free throws in the game's waning
moments to ice the victory.
Rhode Island (19-12) built a 29-20 first-half lead after Dustin Hellenga hit
a 3-pointer and scored on a breakaway dunk with 4:28 left. But the Rams went
cold and didn't score again before halftime.
Temple responded with 10 unanswered points, capped by an alley-oop from
Maurice Collins to Polk with 14 seconds remaining, and the Owls took a 30-29
lead into the locker room. Polk also hit a long 3-pointer during the Temple
run.
Hellenga led Rhode Island with 15 points and six rebounds. Woodward added 12
points and six rebounds.
Collins had 13 for Temple, which advances to a third-round meeting with
Minnesota on Thursday.
