Temple University Athletics
Defense Leads Men's Basketball To 54-53 OT Win At Saint Louis
1.20.08 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2008
ST. LOUIS, MO - Temple did what few Atlantic 10 Conference teams have been able to accomplish in the early part of the season Sunday afternoon - win a league on the road. It took overtime, but the Owls (8-8, 2-1 in A-10 play) evened their record and moved into a tie for second place in the tough Atlantic 10 Conference with a 54-53 victory at Saint Louis (10-8, 1-3).
Junior guard Dionte Christmas led all scorers with 20 points, besting Saint Louis guard Kevin Lisch (17 points) in an intense one-on-one battle throughout the game. He was the lone Owl in double figures as the contest was more about defense, something the Cherry and White continues to improve upon.
"Anytime you can win on the road, especially in the league the way it is, is a great help to your season," said Temple coach Fran Dunphy.
Senior co-captains Mark Tyndale and Chris Clark turned in strong performances. Tyndale, who scored just seven points, dished five assists and made a career-high four blocks with his last coming in the final minute of overtime on junior guard Tommie Liddell III with Temple up one. Clark tallied seven points, including the only basket by either team in the extra frame, a three-pointer from the left wing with 3:56 remaining to put Temple ahead, 54-49.
The Billikens could only muster four free throws in the overtime as the Owls' defense clamped down on the hosts. SLU missed all three of the field goal attempts and turned the ball over twice.
"Guys are buying in a little more," said Dunphy on his team's defensive play of late. "Hopefully it will continue."
Christmas' biggest play of the night came on the defensive end. The A-10 scoring leader flicked the ball off of Lisch's leg near halfcourt and the Billikens lost possession when the ball crossed midcourt with 0.8 seconds to play.
The game started out with neither team able to get on track offensively. When Tyndale drained a three-pointer for the Cherry and White's first points, it made the score 4-3 with 14:28 on the clock. The Owls would take their first lead, 12-10 on a Christmas trey with just under seven minutes to go in the half. Ryan Brooks followed with a three-pointer a minute later, and a Christmas free throw at the 4:03 mark would cap an 11-0 Temple run.
The Owls defense was never better during that stretch, holding the Billikens scoring for over six minutes. Paul Eckerle hit a jumper, breaking a stretch of eight straight misses that also included two SLU turnovers, to cut the Owl lead to 16-12. Following a Christmas lay-up, Saint Louis closed the half on a 8-0 run with Liddell III scoring the final six points to take a 20-18 lead at intermission.
Sergio Olmos scored the Owls first six points of the second half and Christmas drained a three-pointer to put TU ahead, 27-24. Lisch answered with a three-pointer to deadlock the game, one of nine ties in the period.
Trailing 44-39 with 5:36 remaining in regulation, Christmas nailed consecutive three-pointers, the last falling down from the top of the key, to put the Owls back on top. He then made two free throws with 3:33 to play for a 47-44 lead.
Luke Meyer hit a three-pointer, his only trey of the game, to tie it at 47 with 1:20 on the clock. Tyndale then made his first field goal since hitting the Owls first two baskets to make it 49-47 at 0:47. Lisch then made a runner in the lane to tie the game on the next possession. Tyndale missed a contested lay-up on the Owls' final possession of regulation, sending the game to overtime.
Temple returns to Philadelphia to host Big 5 rival Penn on Wednesday (7:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT/OwlAccess).
