Feb 11, 2004

SOUTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (AP) - David Hawkins scored 22 points and Mardy Collins added 21 as Temple beat Rhode Island 69-53 on Wednesday night.

The victory was the third straight for Temple (10-10, 5-5 Atlantic 10), and its 10th straight win over Rhode Island (14-10, 3-7).

Dustin Hellenga led Rhode Island with 22 points.

Temple, which led 35-25 at halftime, shut down Rhode Island's offense early in the second half to take command.

A Keith Butler basket with 8:25 remaining gave Temple a 54-34 lead, as Rhode Island scored just three field goals in the first 13-plus minutes of the second half.

Temple's zone defense frustrated Rhode Island, which shot 32.1 percent from the field and 19 percent on 3-pointers.

Rhode Island built an 18-13 lead with 8:50 to play in the first by hitting 6-of-13 from the field to start the game. But by halftime Temple led 35-25, as Rhode Island had hit just 9-of-23 from the floor.

Collins scored 11 of his 13 first-half points during a 20-4 Temple run. In one stretch Temple scored 10 unanswered points, powered by two 3-pointers from Antywane Robinson and four straight points from Robinson.