Men's Basketball Throws Explorers Off Track ::

PHILADELPHIA (AP) - Lynn Greer and Quincy Wadley each scored 14 points to lead five

Temple players in double figures as the Owls routed local rival La Salle 72-50 Tuesday

night.

Mark Karcher scored 13 points while Pepe Sanchez and Kevin Lyde each scored 10 for the

Owls, who have won four of their last five and eight in a row over the Explorers. Sanchez

added seven assists and Lyde grabbed nine rebounds for Temple.

Rasul Butler had 20 points, all but two in the second half, and Victor Thomas had 13 to

lead La Salle, which has lost eight in a row and has beaten Temple only once in the past

nine years. Thomas is now one point shy of the 1,000 mark for his career.

Donnie Carr, who has led the team in scoring in each of the last three years, struggled

again in his fourth game back after a monthlong bout with pneumonia. He had four points,

all from the foul line, and was 0-for-10 from the field, including three airballs.

After the Explorers (6-9, 0-4) made the first basket of the game, Temple (10-4, 4-1) went

on a 15-1 run, with Wadley hitting three treys during the stretch that saw La Salle go 7:43

without a field goal. The Temple defense allowed the Explorers only four baskets (4-for-25,

16 percent) in the half and just one in the final 9:17 of the period.

The Owls held a 40-12 lead at the halftime break despite making just 13-for-32 (41 percent)

from the field and turning the ball over an uncharacteristic six times.

La Salle did play better offensively in the second half, but was unable to get any closer

than 21. After the Explorers pulled the score to 58-37, the Owls then scored nine straight

to open up another 30-point advantage.