Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Falls At Long Beach State, 76-71
12.23.08 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 23, 2008
LONG BEACH, CA - All-America candidate Dionte Christmas scored 11 of his team-high 19 points in the final two minutes, cutting a 12-point deficit to three, but the Temple rally fell short as the Owls dropped a 76-71 decision at Long Beach State Monday evening ending a forgettable road trip. The Cherry and White fall to 5-5 on the season while the 49ers improve to 5-6.
Looking sluggish after a trip that included arrivals in both Lawrence, KS and Long Beach in the wee hours of the morning, the Owls seemed a step behind the smaller 49er squad, turning the ball over 11 times in the first half en route to a 27-23 deficit at the break. For the third time this season Christmas, the Atlantic 10 Conference's leading scorer (20.8 ppg.) was held without a point over the first 20 minutes.
Senior co-captain Sergio Olmos picked up the slack for his high-scoring teammate, tallying eight of his 13 points in the opening stanza. Junior Ryan Brooks also added eight first half points, keeping the Cherry and White within striking distance.
The Owls quickly tied the contest at 30 on a Semaj Inge jumper, but the Beach ran off 10 unanswered points to take control of the contest. Fueled by the inside-outside combination of guard Donovan Morris(23 points, 9 rebounds) and forward T.J. Robinson (18 points, 7 rebounds), LBSU held the Owls at bay until the final two minutes.
Trailing 67-55, Christmas drained a three to cut the deficit to nine. Following two free throws by Morris, T.J. DiLeo drained a three-pointer and was fouled. The freshman guard missed the free throw but Christmas retrieved the rebound and connected on another trey, cutting the margin to four, 71-67, with 56 seconds remaining.
Brooks, one of four TU double-figure scorers with 10 points, made a steal, but the Owls missed two opportunities to cut the deficit further. First Christmas missed a long three, then off an offensive rebound, Inge's jumper missed the mark.
Stephan Gilling (15 points) made two free throws to expand the lead to 73-67. Brooks then drove the lane to make it 73-69. Morris connected on one free throw with Christmas answering with his fifth trey of the half to make it a one-possession game, 74-71, with eight seconds.
LBSU inbounded successfully and Morris drained both free throws to seal the win.
The owls are now off for the holidays before taking on Big 5 rival Villanova at the Pavilion in a nationally-televised (ESPNU) game December 29 at 7:00 p.m.
