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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Temple coach John Chaney, who doesn't throw compliments around lightly, called Pepe Sanchez the "best point
guard in the country, bar none." On Wednesday night, he was just
happy to have him back in the lineup.
Sanchez, out for six weeks due to an ankle injury, scored just
three points on five shots but had nine assists and seven steals in
25 minutes with just one turnover as the Owls (No. 21 ESPN/USA Today) crushed Rhode Island 88-45 in an Atlantic 10 Conference opener.
"It felt so good to have the guy closest to my mind back out
there," said Chaney, who is notoriously hard on his point guards.
"I don't do well without a point guard. He makes all of the
difference in the world."
Sanchez spent most of his recovery time sitting with the coaches
on the bench during games and at practice and says he learned a
lot.
"I watched the games with the coaches and I learned the game
like they see it, like an assistant coach, which I should be on the
floor anyway," Sanchez said. "I feel much more comfortable now."
Quincy Wadley scored 17 points, Kevin Lyde added 13 and Alex
Wesby had 12 points for the Owls (7-3), who have won five of six.
Zach Marbury had 13 points for the Rams (3-10), who suffered
their eighth straight loss and have now scored less than 50 three
times. Before that, they hadn't fallen below that plateau since
1986.
Temple held the Rams to 34 percent shooting (17-of-50) and
forced 24 turnovers. The Owls had their highest scoring output
since 1993 and made 30-of-69 (44 percent) shots. It was also their
largest victory margin since beating Duquesne 98-55 in 1989.
Temple scored the game's first 15 points with all five starters
scoring and making three 3-pointers in that stretch. The Owls'
biggest lead of the half was 42-10 after Lynn Greer's 3-pointer
with 5:10 left in the half. It was 47-17 at the break.
"It was clearly a knockout punch right at the beginning,"
Rhode Island coach Jerry DeGregorio said. "I said before the
season that Temple is a top 10 team and a good possibility for the
Final Four."
Rhode Island was without starters Luther Clay, who had lower
back pain, and Tiger Wommack, who sat out due to a foot injury.
They combine for 20 points and 15 rebounds a game.
It was Sanchez's return that had him talking.
"My assistants said he wasn't going to play, but I knew he'd
play," DeGregorio said. "Pepe is as good as any point guard in
the country and he makes them a Final Four team. He's their
catalyst."
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Rhode Island Clubhouse
Temple Clubhouse
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