Temple University Athletics
Temple University
9-3
Delaware
5-6
Men’s Basketball Defeats Delaware, 66-63, in Another Nailbiter
12.30.11 | Men's Basketball
Khalif Wyatt scored five of his seven points in final 30 seconds to lift TU to victory
boxscore (PDF) | Players Video | Dunphy Video
NEWARK, Del. - Cardiac Owls! That is what Temple has been the last two days as the Owls posted another win in the final seconds, this one a 66-63 decision over Delaware Friday night at the Carpenter Center. The Owls improve to 9-3 with their third straight win while the Blue Hens (5-6) suffered their first loss at home.
Junior guard Khalif Wyatt, who struggled from the field (2-11) all night, drained a three-pointer from the top of the key to put Temple ahead for good, 64-63, with 30 seconds to play. Wyatt, who finished with seven points, made both ends of a one-and-one with 5.8 seconds on the clock to account for the final score. Then Delaware's Devon Saddler, who led all scorers with 18 points, missed a heavily-defended trey at the buzzer to seal the victory.
The Owls' inside tandem of Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson and Anthony Lee led the way in a tightly-contested game that featured eight lead changes and three ties. Hollis-Jefferson tied his season high with 13 points, while tying for game-high honors with eight rebounds. He also added two assists, two steals and a block. Lee, the hero in Wednesday's 87-85 overtime win over Buffalo, score a career-high 12 points on five-of-eight shooting while pulling down seven rebounds and making three blocks.
The tandem helped Temple control the glass, 40-34, and limit UD's inside threat, Jamelle Hagins (14.3 ppg.), to six points. The Owls had 15 offensive rebounds with Lee (5) and Hollis-Jefferson (4) pounding the backboards.
For the second straight game the Cherry and White struggled from the field. The Owls made just 39.1 percent for the game, and only 32.4 percent in the first half. That was the main reason that the Blue Hens led at the break, 31-30.
Temple trailed for much of the first seven minutes of the second half, but a huge three-pointer by Will Cummings from the right corner off an assist by T.J. DiLeo gave the Owls a 42-40 lead. Lee than extended the margin to four on an follow shot off a Ramone Moore (10 points, 6 assists) miss.
The Owls extended the lead to five (56-51) on a steal and impressive breakaway slam by DiLeo with 6:10 remaining.
Delaware finally regained the advantage (60-59) on a lay-up by Khalid Lewis with 2:45 left. Following a Hollis-Jefferson basket, Kyle Anderson connected on a trey to give UD a 63-61 lead with 2:01 on the clock.
Each team missed opportunities until Wyatt stepped up and connected for what would prove to be the game-winner.
Juan Fernandez added 11 points to give Temple four double-figure scorers.
The Owls posted a 6-1 record for the month of December and are now 19-2 in December games over the last three years.
Temple, which defeated Delaware for the 17th straight time, now opens the New Year with its biggest opponent on the schedule. The Temple-Duke game powered by Under Armour is set for January 4th at the Wells Fargo Center at 7:00 p.m. The game will be televised live by ESPN2 and can be heard on 1210 AM WPHT.
