Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Fordham
Wyatt, Dingle Propel Men's Basketball to Win at Fordham
3.6.13 | Men's Basketball
Box Score | Player Media Conference | Dunphy Media Conference
BRONX, NY – Senior guard Khalif Wyatt recorded his first double-double, posting game highs of 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Temple to its sixth straight win, a 74-55 victory at Fordham Wednesday night. The win improves the Owls to 22-8 overall and 10-5 in Atlantic 10 Conference play. Fordham, which lost its 10th consecutive contest, drops to 6-24, 2-13 in league play.
It marks the sixth straight season Temple has won at least 10 Atlantic 10 games, and a record 26th time in 31 seasons.
Wyatt, who scored 15 of his points in the second half, may have done the most damage, but the story of the night was freshman swingman Daniel Dingle's homecoming. The 6-6 Bronx native, who played at nearby St. Raymond's, had a career night, setting new season highs in points (7) and minutes played (17).
Having played only 21 minutes total in the previous 29 games, Dingle was inserted into the game for sophomore forward Anthony Lee with the Owls trailing 12-6 with 12:25 remaining in the half. Temple then went on a decisive 22-5 run to close out the period leading 28-17.
Dingle played 10 of the 12-plus minutes and scored six of the first eight points in the run with his lay-up at the 9:37 mark giving the Cherry and White the lead for good, 14-12. He add a free throw in the second half, while finishing with two rebounds and a nice assist off an offensive board to Lee for a dunk.
His defense, however, may have been ever more important as the Rams shot a dismal 2-of-13 during the Owls' first half run with seven turnovers.
After Branden Frazier cut the margin to nine, 28-19, on the first possession of the second half, Temple exploded on a 16-5 run to make it 44-24 and put away all doubts on the final outcome. Wyatt tallied six of his points in the stretch, but he was far from being the lone offensive weapon.
For the 17th time this season, and the fifth time in the current win streak, four Owls scored in double figures. Lee, who missed Saturday's win over Rhode Island, posted his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Scootie Randall reached the double-figure column for the seventh straight game, contributing 14 points, seven rebounds and a game-high three steals. Jake O'Brien extended his streak to six straight games in double figures with 10 points even though he failed to make a three (0-2) for just the third game all season.
Jeffrey Short led the Rams with 15 points on 5-of-10 shooting from beyond the arc while Chris Gaston added 12 points.
Temple will next host #19/21 VCU, which defeated Richmond, 93-82, to clinch a first round bye in the A10 Tournament, Sunday. The game, presented by Temple University Alumni Association, will tip-off at noon and be televised live by CBS nationally (CW Philly locally). It will also be broadcast on 1210 AAM WPHT.
It will be Senior Day with Temple honoring five players – Wyatt, Randall, O'Brien, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson and T.J. DiLeo – prior to the game. At halftime Temple will celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the 1987-88 team that ended the season ranked #1 in the nation.
