Temple University Athletics
Chaney, Moyer Honored as Owls Dominate Charlotte, 80-53
1.24.09 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Now that was a performance John Chaney could appreciate.
On the night that Temple University honored the legendary coach along with Dr. Ray Moyer by inducting both into the Temple Athletic Hall of Fame, the Temple men's basketball team (11-7, 3-1) completely dominated conference rival Charlotte in typical Chaney fashion - with a stingy defense and balanced scoring attack- en route to a 80-53 victory from the Liacouras Center.
Senior Semaj Inge led the balanced scoring attack as he tied a career-high with 19 points, sophomore Lavoy Allen added a double-double with 16 point and 10 boards, senior All-American candidate Dionte Christmas scored 12 points and junior Ryan Brooks added 11 points and six rebounds.
For the second consecutive game, the Temple defense was stifling. The Owls held the 49ers (6-12, 1-4) to 28% shooting from the floor - a season low. The previous season low was set just two days ago, when the Cherry and White held Saint Louis to 29% shooting.
Along with Hall of Fame inductions of Chaney and Moyer, the victory also carried some historic significance in that it is the 1700th win in Temple basketball history. The Owls rank sixth in all-time NCAA Division I victories - trailing only Syracuse, Duke, Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky.
Whatever head coach Fran Dunphy told his team about their defensive performance following a 79-75 loss at UMass last weekend, they have certainly responded. For the second consecutive game, Temple used a stingy defense and efficient shooting in the first half to steamroll its Atlantic 10 opponent. Against Saint Louis, the Owls shot out of the gate, quickly building a 21-5 and never looking back. Against the 49ers, it was a 19-2 run over a 10 minute stretch in the first half that put the game out of reach.
"We talk alot about how we have to hang our hat on our defense, because some nights you're going to come out and knock it out like we did Thursday, and sometimes you won't shoot it well at first like we did tonight," said Dunphy. "I was pleased with how we guarded tonight."
The run was sparked by a supporting cast that was crucial to the Cherry and White all night: Brooks, Inge and senior Sergio Olmos. With the Owls up 5-4 at the 14-minute mark, Brooks ended a four-minute scoring drought for the Cherry and White with his running lay-up to extend the lead to 7-4. Inge followed that another bucket to bring the lead to 9-4. On the next possession, Inge tossed a beautiful no-look pass into the post to a wide-open Allen, who jammed it home to stretch the lead to 11-4. With the score at 14-6, Olmos came off the bench to score the next four Temple points, and Brooks followed a Christmas missed lay-up with a commanding dunk to cap off the 19-2, extending the lead to 24-6.
Following that run, Inge went on a run of his own. He connected on three consecutive three pointers - all from the left wing - over a 90-second stretch to extend the lead to 37-14 with 2:37 remaining in the half.
"It looked like they were hedging their defense towards Christmas and Brooks, leaving Semaj open, and he certainly knocked it out. Those three threes were great for us," Dunphy added.
And just when it appeared that it couldn't get any better for the Owls, freshman Juan Fernandez found a wide-open Allen under the basket with just .5 seconds, who converted a powerful dunk while he was fouled. Allen converted the three-point-play and the Owls took a commanding 43-17 lead going into the locker room.
For the second consecutive game, the Owls shot over 50% in the first half, while holding their opponent to under 26%.
Hall of Fame honorees Chaney and Moyer were introduced at halftime to thunderous applause. Chaney, one of two Naismith Hall of Fame Temple men's basketball coaches, led the Owls to 516 victories, 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and five trips to the Elite Eight in 24 seasons at the helm.
It was more of the same in the second half. The Owls extended their lead to 31 points, Allen added 14 second half points, and freshman Scootie Randall drilled a three-pointer with seven seconds remaining to win free Qdoba tacos for everyone in attendance, as the Cherry and White cruised the rest of the way for a 80-53 victory.
With the win, Temple has now won six of its last seven games.
The Owls now hit the road for a critical A-10 battle at Rhode Island on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Action is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m.
