Temple University Athletics
Wednesday, February 22
Tom Gola Arena
7:00 p.m.
Temple University
22-5, 11-2 A-10
80
at
79
La Salle
18-10, 7-6 A-10
1
2
OT 1
F
Temple
32
39
9
80
La Salle
29
42
8
79
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Owls Survive; Defeat Explorers 80-79 in OT to Extend Win Streak to 11
2.22.12 | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Dunphy Video | Players Video
PHILADELPHIA – In their first test since being nationally ranked, #22/22 Temple saw two separate 10-point leads diminish, as La Salle forced overtime at Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday. The Owls snuck away in the Atlantic 10/Big 5 rival matchup, winning, 80-79, to extend their winning streak to 11 consecutive games, making it their longest streak since 1999-2000.
Temple, now 22-5, improves to 3-0 in Big 5 play to clinch a share of the city-series title, and remains alone in first place of the Atlantic 10 Conference standings with its 11-2 record in Atlantic 10 Conference play. La Salle concluded Big 5 play, 1-3 while dropping to 18-10 on the year and 7-6 in league play.
For the Owls, the game took on three stages, led by graduate student Micheal Eric, senior Ramone Moore and junior Khalif Wyatt.
As the Explorers were chipping away at the 10-point deficit Temple held over them after the final media timeout, a technical foul was called on Moore with just 1:34 remaining and the Owls up by five.
Earl Pettis, who finished with a game-and career-high 33 points, made both free throws before knocking down a game-tying three-point basket on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 71.
Moore's presence was limited through most of regulation, but when an extra session was added after the Owls and Explorers stood at a 71-71 deadlock after the first 40 minutes, he rose to the occasion.
Pettis continued his hot shooting from the second half by knocking down a three-pointer from the corner to get the Explorers up by three in overtime, but five straight points from Moore would give Temple a 76-74 lead.
Wyatt and Fernandez then added two free throws to extend the Temple lead to 80-74, but La Salle was far from done.
Tyreek Duren drained one of 10 La Salle treys on the evening to cut the deficit to three, and Pettis added a jumper in traffic a minute later to make it a one-point game with 55 seconds left.
Fernandez missed a baseline jumper on the ensuing possession, giving the Explorers, who had just one home loss on the season, a chance to please the vocal crowd its first win over a ranked opponent in over a decade,
Pettis held the ball at the top of the key with Wyatt defending as the shot clock wound down. He then pulled up for a three-point shot with five seconds remaining that rimmed out. The rebound was deflected into the left corner to Sam Mills for an open trey, but that too was off the mark allowing the Owls to escape with the win.
Eric posted his fourth double-double of the season, contributing 18 points and 12 boards to go along with six blocks.
The fifth-year center got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game for Temple before winding up with 12 first half points to help the Owls to a 10-point lead (28-18) with just under six minutes remaining in the half.
La Salle crept its way back into the game before the midway point.
With a three-pointer from Pettis and back-to-back dunks from Ramon Galloway and Devon White, the Explorers cut it to a three-point deficit at the half.
Eric continued to be a factor in the second half, as he contributed Temple's first two field goals.
Over the next few minutes, junior Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson put up six of his 12 points to bring the Owls lead back up to eight.
From there, the Explorers surged on a 9-0 run, to jump in front 50-49.
Wyatt, who notched his A10 leading 11th 20-point game this season with his 25-point performance, would have everything to say about how long La Salle would hang on to the lead, as he exploded for a 9-0 on his own to return the eight-point advantage to the Cherry and White.
Temple tied its largest lead at a 10-point cushion and maintained its momentum, before La Salle suddenly put up a charge at getting back into the game.
Then La Salle scored 11 of the next 12 points to force the extra frame.
The Owls have now defeated the Explorers in seven straight meetings.
Temple puts its perfect Big 5 record on the line heading into its final city-series matchup with Saint Joseph's at Hagan Arena in a nationally televised tilt on ESPNU Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
PHILADELPHIA – In their first test since being nationally ranked, #22/22 Temple saw two separate 10-point leads diminish, as La Salle forced overtime at Tom Gola Arena on Wednesday. The Owls snuck away in the Atlantic 10/Big 5 rival matchup, winning, 80-79, to extend their winning streak to 11 consecutive games, making it their longest streak since 1999-2000.
Temple, now 22-5, improves to 3-0 in Big 5 play to clinch a share of the city-series title, and remains alone in first place of the Atlantic 10 Conference standings with its 11-2 record in Atlantic 10 Conference play. La Salle concluded Big 5 play, 1-3 while dropping to 18-10 on the year and 7-6 in league play.
For the Owls, the game took on three stages, led by graduate student Micheal Eric, senior Ramone Moore and junior Khalif Wyatt.
As the Explorers were chipping away at the 10-point deficit Temple held over them after the final media timeout, a technical foul was called on Moore with just 1:34 remaining and the Owls up by five.
Earl Pettis, who finished with a game-and career-high 33 points, made both free throws before knocking down a game-tying three-point basket on the ensuing possession to tie the game at 71.
Moore's presence was limited through most of regulation, but when an extra session was added after the Owls and Explorers stood at a 71-71 deadlock after the first 40 minutes, he rose to the occasion.
Pettis continued his hot shooting from the second half by knocking down a three-pointer from the corner to get the Explorers up by three in overtime, but five straight points from Moore would give Temple a 76-74 lead.
Wyatt and Fernandez then added two free throws to extend the Temple lead to 80-74, but La Salle was far from done.
Tyreek Duren drained one of 10 La Salle treys on the evening to cut the deficit to three, and Pettis added a jumper in traffic a minute later to make it a one-point game with 55 seconds left.
Fernandez missed a baseline jumper on the ensuing possession, giving the Explorers, who had just one home loss on the season, a chance to please the vocal crowd its first win over a ranked opponent in over a decade,
Pettis held the ball at the top of the key with Wyatt defending as the shot clock wound down. He then pulled up for a three-point shot with five seconds remaining that rimmed out. The rebound was deflected into the left corner to Sam Mills for an open trey, but that too was off the mark allowing the Owls to escape with the win.
Eric posted his fourth double-double of the season, contributing 18 points and 12 boards to go along with six blocks.
The fifth-year center got off to a quick start, scoring the first six points of the game for Temple before winding up with 12 first half points to help the Owls to a 10-point lead (28-18) with just under six minutes remaining in the half.
La Salle crept its way back into the game before the midway point.
With a three-pointer from Pettis and back-to-back dunks from Ramon Galloway and Devon White, the Explorers cut it to a three-point deficit at the half.
Eric continued to be a factor in the second half, as he contributed Temple's first two field goals.
Over the next few minutes, junior Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson put up six of his 12 points to bring the Owls lead back up to eight.
From there, the Explorers surged on a 9-0 run, to jump in front 50-49.
Wyatt, who notched his A10 leading 11th 20-point game this season with his 25-point performance, would have everything to say about how long La Salle would hang on to the lead, as he exploded for a 9-0 on his own to return the eight-point advantage to the Cherry and White.
Temple tied its largest lead at a 10-point cushion and maintained its momentum, before La Salle suddenly put up a charge at getting back into the game.
Then La Salle scored 11 of the next 12 points to force the extra frame.
The Owls have now defeated the Explorers in seven straight meetings.
Temple puts its perfect Big 5 record on the line heading into its final city-series matchup with Saint Joseph's at Hagan Arena in a nationally televised tilt on ESPNU Saturday at 7:00 p.m.
Team Stats
TU
LAS
FG%
.466
.386
3FG%
.500
.435
FT%
.909
.882
RB
40
33
TO
19
13
STL
5
11
Game Leaders
Pts
25
FGM
7
3FGM
4
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
7
Pts
18
FGM
9
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
12
FGM
5
3FGM
0
FTM
2
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Tuesday, October 07
Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
Friday, October 03
Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
Tuesday, September 30
Ep. 7: Temple Field Hockey Alumna Cherifa Howarth
Friday, September 26
