Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Saint Joseph's
#21/25 Temple Upends Rival Saint Joseph's, 73-46
1.6.10 | Men's Basketball
Eric nets a career high 13 points in Owls first Atlantic 10 win
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA – A career night from sophomore Micheal Eric led the #21/25 Temple men's basketball team past school rival the Saint Joseph's Hawks 73-46 at the Liacouras Center Wednesday night. Eric dropped a personal-best 13 points, including six in a critical first half run, to lift the Owls (12-3, 1-0 in A-10) to their first Atlantic 10 conference win. Saint Joseph's falls to 4-9, 0-1 in A-10 play.
The victory was Temple's sixth straight over their cross-town foe, and the eighth in their last nine games. It was also the largest margin of victory by either team in the series since a 77-45 Temple victory at the Palestra on January 3, 1985.
Taking advantage from the start, Eric (13 pts, 4 rbs) chipped in three lay ups in an 11-4 Owls run. Junior Craig Williams (two-of-five from three) drained a three and freshman Rahlir Jefferson came off the bench to add a two before Hawks' forward Idris Hilliard sparked a 7-0 run to tie the game 11-11 at 14:02.
A two from Hilliard and another jumper from senior Garrett Williamson (7 pts, 5 rbs) gave Saint Joseph's momentum for a game tying transition three from sophomore Chris Prescott.
Senior Ryan Brooks, who was a game-time decision due to a stomach virus, halted the Saint Joseph's run with a three of his own at 13:32 to give the TU the lead for good.
The Owls padded their tally with nine unanswered points, including another basket from Brooks, and two strong drives by senior Luis Guzman (4 pts, career-high 9 rebs) and sophomore Ramone Moore (four-of-six from the field).
Momentum would favor Temple heading into intermission, with Moore using a nice hesitation move to free up space for an easy lay up with 53 seconds remaining. With Saint Joseph's missing at the other end, junior Lavoy Allen then drew contact on a drive, scored the basket and finished the three-point play to send the Owls into the break with a 34-24 lead.
Eric and Allen continued to govern the paint, blocking two shots out of the gate. The latter sprung free to Fernandez who found a streaking Guzman on a fast break for an easy two.
Struggling from the field all evening, Fernandez was held scoreless, but maintained high energy defensive play.
The story of the night was the presence of Temple's big men, namely Allen, who led all players with 20 points and 11 rebounds despite not starting due to missing a film session earlier in the day. Allen slammed home a Fernandez miss at 15:03 in the midst of a short 5-0 run by the Owls.
Strong play from Temple continued through the second half, with Allen lobbing a pass to Brooks for a wide open dunk at 11:46.
Stretching their lead to 51-33 at 9:52, Moore found Allen breaking down the lane for an outstretched lay up. Allen quickly put up another two from the block at 8:50, extending a 6-0 Temple run.
An inevitable win was capped off by five-straight points from TU, including a two from Guzman, an old-fashioned three-point play from Allen, and a layup from senior Rafael DeLeon.
The Owls continue the conference portion of their schedule when they travel to Rhode Island on January 10, with game time slated for 1:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
