Second Chances

Ramone Moore scored all 19 of his points in the second half and the Temple men’s basketball team pulled away after the break for its ninth straight win, 76-70, over St. Bonaventure.

The Owls are 20-5 overall and 9-2 in the Atlantic 10, holding a slim lead over fast-charging Saint Louis for first place in the league. The Bonnies fell to 13-10, 6-5 and lost for the first time in the last nine games at the Reilly Center.

Trailing by a point, 31-30, at the half, the Owls used Moore’s big second half and 54.2 percent shooting as a team after the break to continue their domination of St. Bonaventure. The Owls have beaten the Bonnies 15 straight times and own a 53-6 edge in the series.

The Owls went ahead for good, 42-40, on Micheal Eric’s tip-in at the 13:12 mark of the second half. The lead was still two at 45-43 when Khalif Wyatt hit a three-pointer that started a 10-0 run.

St. Bonaventure made a late run but didn’t make it a one-possession game until Demtrius Conger’s tip got the Bonnies within three with 20 seconds left. Moore hit two free throws to clinch the victory.

Wyatt scored 17 points and Juan Fernandez 16 for the Owls, while Eric grabbed 11 rebounds in 33 minutes while mostly battling Andrew Nicholson. A Bonnie senior and stellar post player, Nicholson accounted for 19 points, five rebounds and four blocks.

Temple returns home to face Duquesne on Saturday at 2 p.m.