Temple University Athletics
Christmas, Allen Lead Temple To 75-68 Win At La Salle In A-10 Opener
1.12.09 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 12, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Senior All-America candidate Dionte Christmas exploded for 19 of his game-high 30 points in the second half and Lavoy Allen added a career-high 21 points to lead Temple to a 75-68 win at La Salle Sunday night in the Atlantic 10 Conference opener for both teams. The Owls, winners of a season-high three straight games, improve to 8-6, while the Explorers fall to 8-6.
Allen set the tone for the Owls early on, scoring Temple's first 12 points to give the Cherry and White a 1-4 lead by the first media timeout. One of three front court players (Craig Williams and Micheal Eric) to don a mohawk for the A-10 opener, Allen also dominated on the defensive end, as the 2008 A-10 All-Defensive team member made two of his three blocks during that opening stretch.
The Owls, who never trailed in the contest, could not shake the Explorers. Temple extended its lead to 17-4 on a Williams' trey, but La Salle, buoyed by six-of-10 three-point shooting over the first half, was able to stay within striking distance.
Christmas started things off for the Owls right away in the second half, draining a three on the team's first possession. The A-10's leading scorer (21.0 ppg.) connected on three more from long distance en route to 19 points in the period.
The Cherry and White held a double-digit lead for much of the second half until Vernon Goodridge, a transfer from Mississippi State, slammed one home and Rodney Green, who led the Explorers with 20 points, drained a three to cut the margin to 62-57 with 7:22 remaining.
A Christmas trey and a Juan Fernandez basket brought the lead back to double figures, 67-57, but again La Salle nibbled away. Three points by Kimmani Barrett and a hook by Goodridge brought La Salle within two possessions, 67-62, with just under four minutes to play.
With the shot clock down to one second, Ryan Brooks drained a three from the right corner and Christmas added another deep three a minute later, again with the shot clock approaching zero, to seal the win for Temple.
Ruben Guillandeaux added 17 points for La Salle, which honored its great 1968-69 team of which Temple head coach Fran Dunphy played a role in at halftime.
Semaj Inge tied Allen for team rebound honors with six while leading the owls with six assists against one turnover. The Owls committed a season-low nine turnovers while the Explorers eight miscues was also a season-low.
Temple next heads to The Palestra for a Wednesday night meeting with Penn (7:00 p.m./CN8/1210 AM WPHT).
