Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Fordham
Men's Basketball Opens A-10 Title Defense With 70-51 Win Over Fordham
1.5.11 | Men's Basketball
Micheal Eric posts first career double-double to lead the Owls
Boxscore | Gallery | Dunphy postgame | Players postgame
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - Three-time defending Atlantic 10 champion Temple opened defense of its title in style with a 70-51 win over Fordham at the Izod Center Wednesday night. Junior forward Micheal Eric posted his first career double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds while junior guards Juan Fernandez and Ramone Moore each tallied team-high 15 points.
"Would be great if he could do that every night I would be thrilled," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said on the play of Eric. "We did need that and I thought he really rebounded the ball well. Lavoy (Allen) did not have a lot of rebounds. I think Mike stole a lot of them. He was very aggressive and did a good job. I was happy for him and for us."
Eric, who had played only 34 minutes over the previous three games due to foul trouble, shot seven of 11 from the field and did not commit a personal foul while playing 27 minutes - two under his career high. His game-high 11 boards, including five offensive, led an Owl contingent that dominated the glass, owning a 42-27 rebound edge.
The game was not easy for the Owls (10-3, 1-0), however, as the Rams (6-7, 0-1) made their first four three-pointers to take an early 19-13 lead. Fordham continued to hold Temple at bay, trading baskets with the heavily-favored visitors until the five-minute mark of the first half.
"We were not as ready to go as Fordham was early on and then we did some switching on the perimeter (defense) that seemed to help us," Dunphy explained.
The switching ignited the A-10's leading defense as the Owls held the Rams scoreless the rest of the half while running off 13 straight points to take a 35-27 advantage into the locker room.
The Owls picked up right where they left off to start the second half, scoring 15 of the first 17 points with the lone interruption coming on a breakaway lay-up off a turnover.
Moore had seven of his points in the early second half spurt, and his basket at the 11:27 mark pushed the margin to a game-high of 24 points (55-31).
Temple then cruised the rest of the way for its 10th win of the season.
Allen contributed 12 points to give the Owls four double-figure scorers while Fernandez matched his career high with seven rebounds.
Branden Frazier led Fordham with 16 points while Chris Gaston, the conference's leading rebounder (12.6 rpg.), was held to eight points and five rebounds.
Temple next hosts Saint Louis on Sunday at 2:00 p.m (OwlAccess). In support of the Eagles, fans who wear Eagles gear to the game on Sunday will receive group pricing (as much as $7 off tickets) at the Box Office.
