Owls-Minutemen Vie For A-10 Title, Automatic NCAA Berth

PHILADELPHIA (Mar. 9) -- This is it. The moment of truth for Coach John Chaney's

2000-01 Temple University basketball team. On the heels of a

breathtaking 77-76 semifinal-round win over stubborn George Washington,

the Owls meet long-time Atlantic 10 Conference-rival Massachusetts for

the A-10 title and an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament Saturday

evening at the First Union Spectrum. The game is scheduled for a 6 p.m.

tip-off and will be televised live nationally by ESPN.

The Owls and Minutemen split their regular-season games, with UMass

posting a 65-64 overtime win at the Liacouras Center on Jan. 27 and

Temple winning 84-52 in Amherst on Feb. 17. The two programs have met

each other five times previously for the title, with the Minutemen

winning four of those contests. Each school owns a league-high five A-10

Tournament crowns; the Owls are the defending champions.

Third-seeded Temple (20-12) advanced into the final on three Lynn Greer

free throws with 2.9 seconds remaining to edge George Washington in the

semifinal round. UMass (15-14), the No. 4 seed, qualified for the

title-game with a 75-70 semifinal-round upset of No. 1-seed St.

Joseph's.

Temple University Athletics