Jan 14, 2004

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - David Hawkins had 24 points to lead Temple to a 58-53 win over Rhode Island on Wednesday night.

Mardy Collins had 14 points and eight rebounds, while Dustin Salisbery added 10 points for Temple (5-7, 1-2 Atlantic 10), which snapped a two-game losing streak and won its ninth straight against the Rams.

Rhode Island (12-5, 1-2) erased an 11-point Temple lead in the second half and tied the game at 48 when Dustin Hellenga hit a 3-pointer with 2:28 to play.

Hawkins, who was held scoreless for the first 11:43 of the second half, answered with a 3-pointer of his own and two free throws that put the Owls ahead by five.

After the Rams' Dawan Robinson made one of two from the line, Hawkins sank another pair that extended the lead to seven and put the game out of reach.

Robinson scored 21 points and Hellenga had 12 on four 3-pointers for Rhode Island, which lost its second straight after winning nine of 10. Scott Hazelton led the Rams with a career-high 11 rebounds.

The Rams were without leading rebounder and second-leading scorer Brian Woodward, serving a one-game suspension imposed by the school for throwing a punch in Sunday's loss to Xavier.

Rhode Island turned the ball over 19 times and was held to its lowest point total of the season.

In the first half, the Owls missed all six of their free-throw attempts and were outrebounded 24-18, but had five 3-pointers and forced 11 turnovers to take a 29-22 lead at the break.