Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Villanova
Moore's 32 Points Push Temple Past Villanova, 78-67
12.10.11 | Men's Basketball
Owls improve to 2-0 in Big 5 Play
Boxscore (PDF) | Postgame Press Conference: Coach Dunphy | Moore and Hollis-Jefferson | Photo Gallery
PHILADELPHIA - Temple extended its Liacouras Center winning streak to 24 consecutive games with its 78-67 victory over Big 5 rival Villanova on Saturday in front of the 12th sellout in Liacouras Center history. The Owls improve to 6-2 on the year and are now 2-0 in Big 5 play. Senior Ramone Moore paced the Owls with a career-high 32 points.. Temple is now on a three-game winning streak while Villanova has lost four of its last five to fall to 5-4 on the year and 2-1 in city-series games.
The classic Big 5 game played at a high intensity level featured 11 lead changes and eight ties. It was not until a 10-0 Temple run ended on a Moore jumper with 6:15 remaining that put the Owls ahead 64-54. That was the separation that both teams had been looking for and it was the Owls that found it, and then held it down the stretch.
Moore, who scored six of the 10 in the deciding run, took the game over when it mattered. A big game player, he had scored his previous career high of 30 points in last year's 68-65 win over #8/8 Georgetown at the Liacouras Center. The Philly guard scored 23 of his points after intermission.
Villanova cut the margin to six on free throws by Archaf Yacoubou and Maalik Wayns (23 points), but Moore answered with a conventional three-point play after being fouled on a lay-up off a feed from Juan Fernandez and T.J, DiLeo added a free throw to bring the lead back to double-figures (68-58).
The Owls did not let the Wildcats back in, keeping the lead at seven or more the remainder of the contest.
Junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson played big for Temple. The Chester, Pa. native posted his first double-double (11 points, career-high 14 rebounds) of the season and second of his career.
Junior guard Khalif Wyatt added 13 points while redshirt freshman Anthony Lee gathered in nine rebounds for the fourth straight game.
The Owls will have off for final week before getting back in action next Saturday when they head to Austin, Texas to take on the University of Texas Longhorns for a 2:30 p.m. tilt on ESPN2.
