Temple University Athletics
Temple University
20-5, 9-2
St. Bonaventure
13-10, 6-5
Men's Basketball Downs St. Bonaventure, 76-70; Wins Ninth Straight
2.15.12 | Men's Basketball
OLEAN, NY - Held scoreless in the first half, senior guard Ramone Moore proved why he is the best player in the Atlantic 10 Conference by scoring a game-high 19 points after intermission to lead Temple to a 76-70 win at St. Bonaventure Wednesday night. The win was the ninth in a row for the Owls (20-5, 9-2 A10), who secured their fifth straight 20-win season and remained in first place in the A10, one-half game ahead of St. Louis (21-5, 9-3). St. Bonaventure saw its eight-game Reilly Center win-streak snapped on its "White Out" night and falls to 13-10, 6-5 in conference play.
"We are very fortunate to come here in this environment, their students were great, their fans were great.. and to come out with a win is very good," said Temple head coach Fran Dunphy
Moore and SBU's senior forward Andrew Nicholson, the A10 Co-Players of the Week, tied for game-high honors. It marks the seventh straight time Moore has led the game in scoring. He has been on fire during the Owls current streak, averaging 21.9 points while shooting 52.3 percent from the field, 48.1 percent from three and 87.2 percent from the line.
"It was very big for us" said Dunphy on Moore's second half. "But it was not surprising as I know his mindset and his mentality."
It was far from a one-man show for the Owls, as Khalif Wyatt (17 pts) and Juan Fernandez (16 pts) joined their backcourt mate in double figures. It marks the 13th game the trio has scored in double figures together with the Owls owning an 11-2 mark in those contests.
Junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson also scored in double figures with nine of his 11 points coming in the first half. He also added eight rebounds. Graduate center Micheal Eric had a game-high 11 rebounds while playing tough defense on Nicholson. He also played his most minutes (33) since his return to the lineup.
After struggling from the field in the first half (34.5%), the Owls, who trailed 31-30 at intermission, found their range over the final 20 minutes, hitting 13 of 24 attempts (54.2%) in the second half.
Temple quickly took a five-point lead, 40-35, with Moore scoring six points in the first four minutes of the period. The A10's leading scorer (18.8 ppg.) then scored five more to key a run of 10 consecutive TU points, giving the Owls a 55-43 advantage with 8:08 remaining.
The Owls would extend the margin to 14 (64-50), three minutes later following three free throws by Fernandez.
The Bonnies would not go quietly, however, running off eight straight points with Nicholson accounting for five, to make it 64-58 with 3:12 on the clock.
Temple held SBU at bay by connecting on 17 of 19 free throws, none bigger than Moore's two with 22 seconds left after the Bonnies had cut the lead to three (72-69).
Moore, who was a perfect six-of-six from the charity stripe added two more from the line to seal the win with eight seconds remaining.
For the game, Temple shot 25-of-29 from the line with Wyatt (9-10) and Fernandez (5-5) combining to make the Owls' starting guards 21-of-22.
Temple returns home to host Duquesne on Saturday afternoon (2:00 p.m.). It is the annual Hooter The Owl's birthday celebration with many mascots from around the Delaware Valley performing during the contest as well as the first 1,500 children ages 14 and under receiving replica Temple jerseys.
