Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Fordham
Randall, Moore Lead #16/17 Temple Past Fordham, 62-45
1.23.10 | Men's Basketball
Owls bench comes up strong to lift team to sixth straight win
Boxscore
BRONX, NY - Three-point shooting and strong bench play helped #16/17 Temple break away from upset-minded Fordham to post a 62-45 win Saturday afternoon at Rose Hill Gym. The Owls, who won their sixth straight game, improve to 17-3 overall, and 5-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. Fordham falls to 2-16 and 0-6 in conference games.
It was the 13th win in the last 14 games for Temple, who remains the only unbeaten team in A-10 play. It also matches the best 20-game record since the 1993-94 squad also compiled a 17-3 mark.
Sophomore guard Juan Fernandez, who topped the Owls with 13 points, hit two three-pointers to open the half to lead a 16-4 run that gave Temple a 38-23 lead with just under 145 minutes to play.
Sophomore forward Scootie Randall, who also had two treys, scored a career-high 12 points over a career best 21 minutes.
Randall was joined off the bench by sophomore guards Ramone Moore (6 pts) and T.J. DiLeo (career-high 5 points), who helped hold off any late Ram rally.
The Owls started off sluggishly in the first half, making only seven of 28 field goal attempts (28%) and two of 12 from long-range (16.7%).
Temple's three top scorers on the season, Ryan Brooks, Fernandez and Lavoy Allen, combined for nine points on three-of-16 from the field.
The Owls' other two starters, senior co-captain Luis Guzman and sophomore forward Micheal Eric, each tallied five points in the half. Guzman, a Bronx native (Paramus Catholic) who was playing in front of family and friends, had sprained his right ankle in Friday's practice and left the game midway through the first half.
The Rams, under the direction of interim coach Jared Grasso, kept it close by slowing the game down in the half court set.
In the second half, the Owls took control with their early run, and never let up. Fernandez, who led the charge, was floored on a hard hit to the head midway through the period with Temple ahead 42-27. He left the game and did not return. His status is day-to-day.
Moore, who played the entire second half and 29 total, one shy of his career-high vs. St. John's), took over at the point with DiLeo his backcourt mate.
The duo then helped expand the margin to a high of 23, 54-31, on a 12-4 run. DiLeo had all five of his points in the flurry while Brooks had five of his nine points during it.
The Owls coasted from there to their eighth straight road win.
Temple next travels to Charlotte for a Wendesday night showdown (7:00 p.m./The Comcast Network/1210 AM WPHT) with the 49ers.
