Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Central Michigan
Men's Basketball Upends Central Michigan, 65-53
12.1.10 | Men's Basketball
Owls shoot 62.5 percent in second half to overcome double-figure deficit
boxscore
MOUNT PLEASANT, MI - Juan Fernandez scored 18 points and Lavoy Allen posted his first double-double of the season to lead Temple to a 65-53 win over Central Michigan Wednesday night to spoil the grand opening of the McGuirk Arena. The Owls shot 62.5 percent from the field in the second half to overcome a 10-point deficit to improve to 4-2 on the season.
Fernandez, who entered the game mired in a 4-of-23 slump from behind the arc, hit all three of his second half treys to help lift the Owls to the victory. Allen, who averaged a double-double for the season as a junior, matched his season high in points (13) while topping double figures in boards (10) for the first time in '10-11. He also rejected a career-high five shots as the Owls utilized their superior height advantage to out-rebound the Chippewas, 40-24.
Ramone Moore added 16 points as Temple's top three players reached double figures in the same game for just the second time this season. The trio accounted for 30 of the 41 second half points and outscored the entire CMU squad (21) by nine in the period.
Temple needed its trio to perform well as Central Michigan senior swingman Jalin Thomas was on fire. Thomas, using the energy of the sellout (5,350) crowd at newly renovated arena, nearly outscored the entire TU team in the first half. He scored 17 of his career-high 26 points in the opening period, hitting six of nine from the floor, including three of five from long range.
Thomas' offense, along with the Owls continued shooting woes (10-27, 37%), helped give CMU a 32-24 lead. It was most points Temple's defense allowed in the first half, and it marked just the second deficit at the break for TU.
The Chippewas increased the margin to double figures, 41-31, early in the second half, but the Owls answered with eight straight points to cut the deficit to a basket. Thomas, who ended up making six of eight from distance, then banked in a trey to end the run.
Tip-ins by Allen and Scootie Randall (7 pts), who matched his career high with nine rebounds, made it a one point game but again Thomas answered from long-range to make it 47-43 with 11:40 to play.
That, however, would be Thomas' last shot attempt as the Owls defense clamped down on him.
Fernandez drained his third three of the half to counter Thomas' trey and following an Amir Rashid (11 pts) lay-up, the Owls finally were able to break away.
Temple ran off seven straight to take its first lead of the contest, 55-49. That was part of a 17-4 run over the final 10 minutes.
The Owls have now held all six opponents under 60 points to tie the 1962-63 Temple squad for the modern day school record to start a season.
Temple next travels to Washington, D.C. Sunday (8:00 p.m./Comcast SportsNet/1210 AM WPHT) to take on Maryland at the Verizon Center as part of the BB&T Classic.
