Temple University Athletics
UMass Downs Temple, 88-77, To Extend Owls Skid To Five Games
1.13.07 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2007
AMHERST, MA - Senior Stephane Lasme scored 17 points and blocked six shots in the second half to lead Massachusetts to an 88-77 win over Temple at the Mullins Center Saturday afternoon. The loss ends a rugged five-game stretch of games for Temple (6-9, 0-3) that included Villanova, Duke, Xavier and Saint Joseph's - all losses. UMass improves to 13-4, 3-0 in A-10 play.
"Lasme controlled the game from the defensive end in the second half," said Temple coach Fran Dunphy on the 2006 A-10 Defensive Player of the Year. "He is terrific. He changes the game. We went over it (his shot-blocking) a dozen times."
The 6-8 forward entered the game second in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 5.31 per game, and as a contender for A-10 Player of the Year honors. After playing just eight minutes and scoring four points (0 blocks) in the first half due to foul trouble, the defensive standout ignited a 20-7 run over the first six minutes of the second half, turning a 45-40 halftime deficit into a 60-52 lead. He had nine points, three of his game-high 11 rebounds and one block during that stretch.
Sophomore guard Dionte Christmas, who scored a game-high 23 points, drained a three-pointer and senior guard Dustin Salisbery (14 points) followed a Chris Lowe basket with a trey of his own to make it 62-58.
UMass quickly brought the margin back to a comfortable eight points and then the teams traded baskets over the next three minutes before the Minutemen ran off eight unanswered points, capped by a Lasme put-back to take their largest lead of the game, 84-67, with 5:28 remaining.
The Owls clawed their way back, using a 10-0 run spearheaded by Christmas (five points) to cut the margin to seven, 84-77, with 1:34 to play. On UMass' subsequent possession, senior guard James Life appeared to have first committed an offensive foul and then travel, but neither call was made. Lasme came away with the ball in the paint on the broken play and slammed it home with one second on the shot clock to squelch the Owl comeback.
The first half saw the Minutemen jump out to a 26-14 advantage on the strength of a 10-0 run capped by a Life three-pointer. It was one of his three in the half as the Minuteman sniper scored 16 points for the game. Salisbery spearheaded a 12-3 TU run with six points and Christmas capped it with two free throws to give the Cherry and White their first lead, 38-36, with 2:39 on the clock.
Following a three-pointer by junior Gary Forbes (18 points), a transfer from Virginia, the Owls closed the half with seven straight points to go into the locker room with a 45-40 lead.
UMass, one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the nation, hurt themselves again at the charity stripe over the first 20 minutes, hitting just seven-of-20. Temple took advantage, draining 13 of its 15 attempts.
The Minutemen, who started four players as big as Temple's lone forward, Dion Dacons (6-6), controlled the backboard all day. UMass grabbed 13 offensive boards in the first half and held a 21-15 edge at the break. The Minutemen dominated the glass over the final 20 minutes, grabbing 22 rebounds to the Owls' nine.
"The toughest part (about the rebounding) was the second half," said Dunphy. "The offensive rebounds (five) they stuck back in."
UMass scored 23 second chance points off its 18 offensive rebounds compared to eight for Temple (8 offensive rebounds).
First team all-Atlantic 10 performer Rashaun Freeman tied Lasme for UMass scoring honors with 21 points. He also gathered in 11 rebounds and blocked three shots to give coach Travis Ford's squad a formidable inside presence.
Junior guard Mark Tyndale added 19 points for Temple over a season-high 39 minutes. Dacons added 11 points, hitting a career-best three three-pointers on four attempts. The undersized post player also grabbed a team-high five rebounds. Junior guard Chris Clark dished a game-high six assists against just one turnover.
Temple, who opened A-10 play with three losses for the first time in program history, next hosts Saint Louis at the Liacouras Center on Wednesday night (7:00 p.m./1210 WPHT).
