The Villanova Wildcats may be the NCAA men’s basketball champs, but it was Temple Law Dean JoAnne Epps raising two Vs for victory at half court when Temple defeated Villanova, 50-37, in the 4th annual Deans’ Cup basketball tournament.
Professor Ken Jacobsen, dapper in a tux and white Nikes, served as emcee for the event. Villanova Law student Natasha Feldman delivered a soaring rendition of the national anthem, after which the games began.
The 2016 tournament was the fourth match-up between Temple and Villanova, and the first time teams from Drexel University’s Thomas R. Kline School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School joined the competition. Proceeds from the evening were split among the schools’ respective public interest organizations: Temple’s SPIN, Penn’s Equal Justice Foundation, Villanova’s Walter Lucas Public Interest Fellowship Program, and Drexel’s Public Interest Experience.
The first round of play pitted Temple against Penn, while Drexel took on Villanova. After defeating Penn 47-24, Temple faced Villanova in the championship round, pulling away quickly to a 28-19 halftime lead before claiming victory and reclaiming the Cup.
Temple was represented on the court by 1Ls Meredith Manchester, Maggie Borski, A.J. Dean, Duncan Becker, and Raul Mendez; 2Ls Shannon Daniels, A.J. Rudowitz, and Adam Federer; 3Ls Joel Michel, Malcolm Ingram, Tim McGurrin, and Ovie Onobrakpeya; and Professors Kristen Murray and Jim Shellenberger. The team was coached by Professor Don Harris.