Dec 31, 2002

Box Score?|? Notes

VILLANOVA, Pa. (AP) - Freshman guard Allan Ray scored 16 points and freshman forward Curtis Sumpter had 10 points, all in the second half, as Villanova defeated local rival Temple 70-62 Tuesday.

Gary Buchanan added 10 points for Villanova (7-4) while Maurice Collins and Brian Polk each had 18 for Temple (2-7).

Temple held a 48-43 lead with 10:19 remaining but then went cold, as Villanova's all-court pressure ignited a 15-3 run including a 3-point play by Jason Fraser and five straight points by Buchanan to give the Wildcats a 58-51 advantage at the 5:25 mark.

Temple closed to 63-57 on two foul shots by Polk with 2:38 remaining, but Villanova then scored seven straight points, five by Sumpter, to clinch the victory.

Temple led throughout most of the first half, when neither team could gain more than a 7-point lead. Polk had 15 of his points in the first half, which saw Villanova gain a 31-30 edge on a jump shot by Randy Foye with nine seconds left before intermission.

Temple holds a 38-37 edge in the all-time series.