Temple University Athletics
Temple University
2-0
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Western Michigan
0-2
Temple Handles Western Michigan, 69-55, in Puerto Rico Tip-Off Quarterfinal
11.17.11 | Men's Basketball
Box Score (PDF)
SAN JUAN - Temple began Thursday morning's game against Western Michigan on a 9-0 run and never looked back, as it went on to defeat the Broncos by 14 points in a 69-55 victory at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico in the opening game of the 5-Hour Energy Puerto Rico Tip-Off.
Fifth-year forward Micheal Eric hauled down a career-high 15 boards to go along with 12 points for his first double-double of the season, while also rejecting three Western Michigan shots. All five starters reached double-digit scoring figures, as senior Ramone Moore paced the team with 15 points, while dishing five assists against zero turnovers.
Junior guard Khalif Wyatt, seeing his first action of the season, also grabbed a career-high in rebounds with seven, while making a game-high four steals. The 2011 A-10 Sixth Man of the Year, who started in place of sophomore Aaron Brown, scored 11 points.
Senior Juan Fernandez added 14 points and a game-high six assists while junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson rounded out the double-figure performers with 13 points to go along with his six rebounds.
Temple never trailed in the contest and led by as many as 22, 57-35, midway through the second half. The Owls opened up a double-figure advantage just five minutes into the game (14-4), and following a Brown lay-up with 2:34 remaining in the half that made it 30-19, never led by less than 10.
Matt Stainbrook, who scored 32 points in WMU's opener, led the Broncos with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
The Owls (2-0) will take onPurdue (3-0) , a 91-90 winner over Iona, in the semifinals tomorrow. Game time is at 1:00 p.m. The contest will be televised by ESPNU and can be heard on 1210 AM WPHT.
