Temple University Athletics
Temple University
10-4,(0-1, A-10)
Dayton
12-4,(2-0, A-10)
Dayton Ends Temple's Home Win Streak, 87-77
1.7.12 | Men's Basketball
Wyatt scores season-high 28 as Owls fall in A10 opener
Box Score (PDF) | Postgame Media Conference
PHILADELPHIA – Dayton used a balanced attack that featured five double-figure scorers to do what no team has been able to do over the last two years, defeat Temple at the Liacouras Center. The Flyers, who improve to 12-4, 2-0 in Atlantic 10 Conference play, toppled the Owls (10-4, 0-1), 87-77 Saturday to end TU's 25-game home win streak in the arena. The last time Temple dropped a game on North Broad Street was on January 2, 2010 and the opponent was #1/1 Kansas.
After upsetting #3/5 Duke Wednesday, this game showed how tough the Atlantic 10 Conference is this season.
Following a first half that saw six ties and six lead changes, Temple seemed to have things under control for the initial 12 minutes of the second half. Then Dayton went on an 18-2 run over a four-minute stretch that propelled them to a 71-62 advantage with 4:25 remaining.
Five players scored in that stretch for the Flyers, with Luke Fabrizius (13 points) draining two threes to lead the run.
Junior guard Khalif Wyatt, who scored 11 of his career-high 28 points in the final three-plus minutes, kept the Owls within striking distance in the closing minutes, but the Flyers would not relent. After a Wyatt trey cut the margin to five (77-72) with 1:53 remaining, Josh Parker (16 points) provided what head coach Fran Dunphy called "the dagger" - a three-pointer as the shot clock approached zero to make it 80-72 with just over a minute to play.
Dayton closed the game by hitting seven of eight free throws, and not letting Temple get within five points in the final minute.
Kevin Dillard tied Parker for team-high honors with 16 points, while Matt Kavanaugh and Chris Johnson added 14 and 12 points, respectively. Johnson also had a game-high 10 rebounds to lead the Flyers to a 39-27 advantage on the boards.
Ramone Moore added 17 points while Juan Fernandez chipped in with 15 points. The Owls hit a season-high 11 three-pointer with Wyatt draining five-of-10 from long range.
Temple next goes on the road to one of the toughest places to play, Chaifetz Arena, to take on the Saint Louis Billikens (13-3, 1-1 A10) Wednesday night (9:00 p.m. ET/CBS Sports Network/1210 AM WPHT).
