Olympics: Team USA 116 - Australia 85

Press Release — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:08:25 -0700

Following a slow start, the United States quickly regrouped and rolled past Australia by the score of 116-85 in Olympic quarterfinal action Wednesday night in Beijing. Team USA improves to 6-0 with the win and more importantly advances to Friday's semifinal round.

Deron Williams (Illinois) hit a big 3-pointer to close out the first half, putting the United States up by 12 and providing a momentum lift that the U.S. carried over into the second half when the squad quickly put Australia away for good with a 14-0 run to start the third quarter. Kobe Bryant led all scorers with 25 points, including 4 of 7 from three.

Patrick Mills (Saint Mary's) led Australia with 20 points.

Team USA will play reigning Olympic champion Argentina in the semifinals Friday at 9:15 a.m. Central Time. This will be a rematch of the 2004 semifinal in Athens that saw Argentina defeat the U.S. In the other semifinal, Spain takes on Lithuania.

Former Temple Owl Mark Tyndale to Play in Australia

Press Release — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 17:58:47 -0700

PHILADELPHIA - Temple University men's basketball standout Mark Tyndale has signed a professional basketball contract with the Adelaide 36ers of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL). He will leave for Australia next week.

"This is a great opportunity," Tyndale said. "Adelaide made me a generous offer and (former Temple star) Rick Brunson said it is a really good league to play in."

One of the best all-around players in Temple history, Tyndale shared the Philadelphia Big 5's co-Most Outstanding Player award with Pat Calathes of Saint Joseph's and was named the Most Inspirational Player at the Portsmouth Invtational. He also earned Most Valuable Player honors for the Temple men's basketball team.

The first player in Atlantic 10 Conference history to rank among the top 10 in scoring and rebounding and top five in assists and steals in the league, the Philadelphia native (Simon Gratz) averaged 15.9 points, while leading the team in rebounding (7.2 rpg.) and assists (4.3 apg.). He is also the only Temple player to rank among the school's all-time top 20 scorers (1,729 points) and rebounders (733) and top 10 assists (377) and steals (201) leaders.