Temple University Athletics
#7 Tennessee Downs Temple, 80-63, In Men's Basketball Opener
11.9.07 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 9, 2007
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Seventh-ranked Tennessee used a balanced scoring attack, placing four players in double figures, to defeat visiting Temple, 80-63, Friday night in the season-opener at Thompson-Boling Arena. Junior Dionte Christmas and senior Mark Tyndale, the first duo from one team to place one-two in the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring, topped the Owls with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
"I am sure we will play some really good basketball teams as the season goes on, but Tennessee is a really good team. They make you do some things on your offense that you are not ready for," said Temple head coach Fran Dunphy.
Freshman Lavoy Allen, starting in his first collegiate game, made his presence known immediately. The Morrisville, Pa. native ended the game with eight points, a game-high nine rebounds and a team-high three assists. His impact was felt though when he was not in the contest, as the newcomer was in foul trouble early in the contest, limiting his time on the court to 23 minutes.
Allen made his first three shots from the field and looked like a season veteran while playing in front of a raucous sellout crowd at the newly-refurbished arena. The Pennsbury High product scored a six points and grabbed five rebounds before picking up his second foul with 12:38 remaining in the first half and Temple leading 14-11.
At this point the Cherry and White had made six-of-seven field goal attempts and the offense looked to be running effectively against the high-pressure Tennessee defense.
The game quickly turned when Allen took a seat on the bench as Tennessee went on a 14-2 run to take a 25-16 lead with 8:36 to play. The Volunteers, who forced an incredible 5.2 turnovers per game on in-bounds plays alone last season, pressured the Owls, who led the Atlantic 10 Conference in fewest turnovers per game in '06-07, into 15 turnovers by intermission. Temple would end the contest with 23 miscues.
"We cannot simulate how hard Tennessee plays on the defensive end, and some of the turnovers they cause," Dunphy said. "We have to be a lot more patient, and a lot more careful. I really thought a lot of their scoring happened off of their defense. We have to do a lot better handling that type of pressure."
Dunphy, who had said prior to the start of the season that one of the biggest things he needed from Allen was minutes, reinserted his freshman forward at the six-minute mark, but he was charged with his third foul just 33 seconds later.
The Owls made just three-of-20 field goal attempts following Allen's second foul, with the reigning A-10 scoring champion, junior Dionte Christmas, missing all three of his attempts from the field.
Christmas scored five points in a 9-4 Owl run to start the second half, pulling Temple to within 10 points, 44-34.
Tennessee then reeled off 11 straight points to take a commanding 55-34 advantage with 12:07 remaining. The Owls were able to get no closer than 16 the remainder of the contest.
JaJuan Smith led the Vols with 15 points and made five of their 10 steals. Ramar Smith added 14 points while Wayne Chism (11) and Chris Lofton (10) also scored in double figures.
Sophomore guard Luis Guzman played effectively off the bench, posting career highs in points (9) and minutes played (18).
The Owls (0-1) travel to San Juan to take part in the ESPNU Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic next week. Temple opens the three-game tournament against Providence on November 15 at 2:30 p.m. The game will be televised live by ESPNU and can be heard on The Big Talker, 1210 AM WPHT.
