Temple University Athletics
Allen Nets Career High as Temple Hangs on to Top Rhode Island, 68-62
2.8.09 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2009
GALLERYPHILADELPHIA - With only eight games remaining in the regular season, the Temple men's basketball team needed someone to step up their game if the Owls had any thoughts of returning to the NCAA Tournament this season. Sophomore Lavoy Allen - one of the most soft-spoken but most talented Owls - answered that call.
Allen scored a career-high 23 points on 10 of 14 shooting and pulled down 13 rebounds, while senior Dionte Christmas added 19 points, including two crucial free-throws with :19 seconds remaining, as the Owls (13-9, 5-3) held on for a critical 68-62 Atlantic 10 victory over Rhode Island (16-8, 5-4) from the Liacouras Center on Sunday afternoon.
"I think right now he is imposing his will on the game more than he ever has," Dunphy said about Allen. "He's defending very well, he's scoring, he's rebounding and just a very good basketball player. None of this surprises me."
Sophomore Craig Williams added 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from behind the arc, while senior Semaj Inge added a career-high seven assists.
Ryan Brooks added six points and spearheaded another outstanding defensive effort for the Owls while playing at home. Brooks hounded Rhode Island guard Jimmy Baron all night, limiting one of the Atlantic 10 top scorers to a quiet 13 points, while the rest of the team limited the high-powered Rams' offense close to 20 points below their season average.
The victory avenges the Owls earlier loss to the Rams this season on January 28 at Rhode Island. In that game, the Owls shot only 39 % in a 67-59 loss
"Last time, they were much more physical than we were," said Allen. "Today, we tried to be more aggressive on both ends of the floor.
Despite leading by as many as 18 points in the second half, the outcome was seriously in doubt in the final minutes. With 3:16 remaining the game and the Owls up 64-54, Rhode Island's Keith Cothran - who scored all of his team-high 16 points in the second half - connected on his third three pointer of the game cutting the Cherry and White lead to 64-57.
A Christmas lay up extended the lead to 66-57, but URI's Lamonte Ulmer hit a three-pointer with 1:36 left to trim the margin to 66-60. After Inge missed the front end of a 1-and-1, URI's Marquis Jones hit 1-of-2 from the line to cut the lead to 66-61 with :33 seconds remaining.
On the following inbound pass, Jones stole the ball from Christmas at mid-court and drew a foul, going to the line with :23 seconds left in the game and chance to bring the Rams to within one possession. But Jones couldn't deliver from the line, missing both free throws. Allen pulled down the rebound and Christmas got to the line with :19 seconds remaining. Christmas nailed both foul shots and the Owls hung on for the 68-62 victory.
In the first half, the Rams jumped out to an early 6-0 lead behind back-to-back threes, but the Owls responded in a big way. They Cherry and White went on a 17-2 blitz behind Allen and Christmas. Allen scored eight points on 4-of-4 shooting, while Christmas added six points, giving the Owls and early 17-8 lead.
Coming off the bench, Williams shouldered much of the scoring load for the rest of the first half. He connected on three consecutive three pointers over a five minute stretch. His third, at the 7:49 mark, extended the Cherry and White lead to 28-18.
After a Christmas lay-up made the score 32-30 with 3:27 remaining in the first half, the Owls would be held scoreless for the remainder of half, as the Rams trimmed the lead to 32-25 heading into the locker rooms.
The Owls came back from the intermission on fire, hitting their first six shots of the half. Brooks open up with a three-pointer, senior Sergio Olmos and Inge connected on consecutive possessions, Allen added a dunk under the basket and Christmas drilled his second three-pointer of the game to extend the lead to 46-28.
With the win, the Owls have now won six consecutive home games after dropping the home-opener to Miami (OH) and are 4-0 at home against Atlantic 10 opponents for the season.
The road doesn't get any easier for the Owls as try to stay near the top of the Atlantic 10 standings, as they head to the historic Palestra to take on arch-rival Saint Joseph's (14-8, 7-1) this Thursday.
"I think everyone knows that this a big game for us. It's going to be a tough game, it's going to a physical game and we are going to have to bring our best effort," Christmas said. "They are second in the league, they are well coached and we are going to have to pay attenton to detail to win."
Action is slated to begin at 7:00 p.m. and can be see on ESPN2 and can be heard on 1210 AM WPHT.
