Dec 15, 2003

Box Score

By DAN GELSTON
AP Sports Writer

PHILADELPHIA – David Hawkins scored 25 points to help Temple spoil South Carolina’s undefeated start with a 71-61 win on Monday night.

The Gamecocks (8-1) were looking for their first 9-0 start since 1970-1971, but never led after the opening basket. The Gamecocks trailed 55-35 with 7:41 left in the game before cutting it to three with just over a minute left. Temple, though, sealed the win from the free-thow line and narrowly avoided one of its biggest collapses.

South Carolina’s Mike Boynton and Ivan Howell arrived shortly before the 7 p.m. tip after participating in on-campus graduation ceremonies in the afternoon. Boynton, the Gamecocks starting point guard, entered the game with 13:46 left in the first half and led the team with 16 points.

Howell was scoreless in one minute.

Hawkins, who’s second in the Atlantic 10 in scoring, hit a couple of 3-pointers early as Temple (3-4) raced to a 30-15 lead. The Owls made 10 of their first 20 shots and their matchup zone held the Gamecocks to only 24 percent shooting from the floor in the first half.

Two more 3s by Hawkins stretched Temple’s lead to 55-35 midway through the second half, but South Carolina came charging back.

Boynton sank a 3-pointer, and Carlos Powell and Renaldo Balkman combined for 10 straight points as the Gamecocks made it 62-52 with 2:03 left.

South Carolina forced a turnover on an inbounds pass, leading to a Boynton 3-pointer to pull within seven with 1:53 remaining. Two straight turnovers – Temple had 15 – both led to layups by Powell, making it 62-59 with 1:02 left.

Tardy Collins sank two free throws for a five-point cushion, then Powell missed the front end of a 1-and-1. South Carolina grabbed the offensive rebound, missed, and grabbed one again, but Balkman missed the free throw.

South Carolina outrebounded Temple 45-41 overall and 24-13 on offensive boards. The Gamecocks, however, were only 2-for-10 from the free-throw line.

Keith Butler added career-highs with 14 points and 12 rebounds and Collins had 12 for Temple.

Powell scored 14 points and Balkman had 10.

Temple coach John Chaney won his 696th career game.