Temple University Athletics
Temple University
California
#21/20 Temple Falls to California, 57-50, in Old Spice Classic
11.26.10 | Men's Basketball
Late scoring drought dooms Cherry and White
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LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - A late second half scoring drought undid #21/20 Temple in the first round of the Old Spice Classic as the Owls dropped a 57-50 decision to the California Golden Bears on Thanksgiving evening at the HP Fieldhouse inside the Disney Sports Complex. The Owls, who fell to 2-1 on the season, will play Georgia Friday night (7:30 p.m./ESPNU & ESPN 3D/1210 AM WPHT) in the consolation bracket. The Golden Bears improve to 3-0.
Temple took its biggest lead of the game, 45-38, on two big baskets by sophomore forward Rahlir Jefferson with 7:42 remaining. The Owls then went ice cold, missing eight straight shots and adding a turnover during a 16-1 Golden Bear run over a six-minute stretch that gave Cal a 54-46 lead.
Jefferson, who had 10 points and a team-high eight rebounds off the bench, broke the dry spell with a lay-up at the 1:53 mark. It would also prove to be the Cherry and White's last field goal.
"We had a nice lead there and then we gave it back," Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said. "Gary Franklin's (3-point) shot hurt us and then a ball was tipped back out again and they had an easy run out. So our seven point lead went to two in a hurry. That hurt us greatly and then we just could not find a way to score."
Frankkin, who made two big second half treys, was one of four double figure scorers in a balanced Cal attack. Harper Kamp led the Bears with 13 while Allan Crabbe (12) and Jorge Gutierrez (10) also hit double digits.
"Give California credit," Dunphy added. "They defended us well the last seven minutes and made the shots they needed to make."
Senior forward Lavoy Allen, who had a quiet first half, asserted himself over the final 20 minutes in leading the Owls with 13 points.
Junior guards Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore both struggled from the perimeter. Fernandez had his worst shooting game as an Owl, misfiring on all seven three-point attempts and hitting just two-of-14 overall from the field for nine points. Moore, who scored all five of his points over the first eight minutes, made just two of 11 shots (1-5 from three).
As a team, Temple was two of 19 from long-range (10.5%) and only 20 of 60 (33%) overall. The Owls defense did hold the high-scoring Bears well below their 84.5 scoring average.
On a positive note, sophomore Khalif Wyatt had a nice game, scoring a career high seven points on three-of-four shooting.
