Temple University Athletics
Owls Make it Four Straight With Convincing 98-89 Win Over UMass
2.11.07 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore Dionte Christmas tallied 30 points for the fifth time this season and senior Dustin Salisbery chipped in with 25 points as Temple (11-12, 5-5) evened its Atlantic 10 Conference record with a convincing 98-89 win over Massachusetts at the Liacouras Center Sunday afternoon. It marked the fourth straight win for the Cherry and White, the longest win streak for the program since February, 2004 when that Owl team won five consecutive games. UMass, who came into the game atop the A-10 standings, falls to 17-7 overall, 7-3 in league play.
The Owls, who topped 100-points for the first time in 19 seasons in their last win, nearly eclipsed the century mark again. The 207 combined points are the most in consecutive games in the 110 seasons of varsity competition at the school, surpassing the 201 total set in January, 1956 (108-81 win at Delaware, 1/26; 93-74 win at Navy, 1/28).
"This was a really important win as far as the need to convince ourselves that we're a good basketball team," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said. "Each step along the way is another recognition of that, and this one was a big one."
The Owls started strong, connecting on their first five shots to take a 12-2 lead in the first two-and-a-half minutes. They then extended the advantage to 20 points, hitting six-of-seven from the field in a five-minute stretch to boost the margin to 30-10 with 9:55 to play in the half.
Unlike previous games where the Owls have let early double-figure leads slip away, Temple never let UMass back into the contest. The Minutemen cut the margin under double-digits in the final four minutes of the first half, and trailed by nine, 44-35, at intermission. Salisbery, who was a solid 50 percent (7-14, 3-6 3pt) from the field, drained jumper on the Owls' initial possession of the second half, and UMass would not again get within single digits until the final 12 seconds.
"Coach Dunphy said that we lead the country in leading in the first half and then losing (the game) in the second half," said junior guard Mark Tyndale. "I think we have done a good job of closing out (wins) the last four games. We have done a lot of situational things in practice and that is crossing over to the game. It has helped us do a better job out there."
"Give (Temple) all the credit," UMass coach Travis Ford said. "I can't sit here and say we played bad. Temple just really outplayed us. They were very good today and Christmas is as good a player as there is in the league. They just made some great shots. We couldn't guard them."
For the sixth straight game the Owls shot over 50 percent from the field (31-58, 53.4%) with Christmas (10-16, 5-8 3pt) and sophomore point guard Semaj Inge (5-6, 1-2) leading the charge. Inge, who scored six of his 11 points in the opening five minutes to set the tone, tallied double figures for just the fourth time this season and the first since Saint Joseph's (1/10).
As expected, UMass dominated the glass, out-rebounding Temple, 44-26, for the game. However it was Gary Forbes, who compiled game-highs of 31 points and 14 rebounds, who led the way, not the Minutemen twin towers, seniors Rashaun Freeman (12 points, 9 rebounds) and Stephane Lasme.
Lasme, who shared A-10 Player of the Week honors with Christmas, scored a quiet 17 points, on six of seven shooting, but managed to grab just four rebounds. The nation's leading shot-blocker (120 entering play), Lasme rejected three Owl shots in the game.
Tyndale led Temple with nine rebounds, and contributed 15 points as well as a team-high seven assist and three steals. Tyndale, who is averaging 10.8 rebounds over the current win streak, also became the 43rd Temple player to reach the 1000-point plateau. He now has 1,014 points.
Freshman Ryan Brooks again gave Temple coach Fran Dunphy a strong performance off the bench. Brooks score eight points over 12 minutes on three-of-five shooting.
Temple also continued its recent free throw shooting prowess, making 25-of-29 from the line. The Owls are now hitting 72 percent from the charity stripe for the season.
The Owls will now take their win streak on the road when they travel to city-rival La Salle for a Wednesday night game (7:00 p.m.).
