It’s still too early for the Temple men’s basketball team to worry about things like the Atlantic 10 Tournament or postseason possibilities. Things will take care of themselves if the Owls take care of business.
But it’s hard to take your eyes off the A-10 standings and the upcoming schedule after seeing what Coach Fran Dunphy’s squad did on Thursday night.
With senior point guard Chris Clark leading the charge, the Owls pulled ahead of Fordham in the last 10 minutes and scored a 58-50 victory over the Rams at Rose Hill Gymnasium.
It was Temple’s second A-10 road win this season. Last year, the Owls won just one league game on the road. It also snapped a three-game losing skid against the Rams, who’ve slipped into the bottom half of the A-10 standings after being picked to finish in fourth place this season.
Clark did his best Dionte Christmas impression, hitting 6 of 9 field goal attempts to finish with a career-high 16 points. Twice in the last 10 minutes, he nailed a huge shot when the Owls were protecting a three-point lead.
Nobody else in the building came close to Clark’s numbers. Maybe it was the unusually cold air in the half-empty gym, which seemingly depends on warm bodies to increase the heat. Maybe both teams played great defense, except against Clark.
Christmas went 0 for 5 from three-point range and finished with 13 points. Ryan Brooks, Semaj Inge, and Luis Guzman combined to shoot 2 for 11 from the field. Fordham guards Marcus Stout and Brenton Butler combined to miss 22 of 29 field goal attempts.
As a team, the Rams were 4 of 23 from three-point range, including an 0 for 11 mark in the second half. They weren’t very efficient on two-point shots (14 for 35) or free throws (10 for 18), either.
Only Mark Tyndale played it smart, diving towards the basket whenever possible – under control – instead of settling for long jumpers. Tyndale was 3 for 8 from the field, but he converted 8 of 11 free throws to finish with 14 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals, two blocked shots, and no turnovers.
But Clark was the difference-maker. Midway through the first half, he helped the Owls turn a three-point deficit into a three-point lead by nailing a pair of three-pointers and a baseline jumper.
In the second half, he started a 10-0 run with another mid-range jump shot, and the Owls pushed to a 46-39 lead. When Fordham answered with four straight points, Clark dribbled into the lane and sank a one-handed floater to keep his team in charge.
The teams were still separated by just three points in the last two minutes. But the Rams could never hit the big shot, and Tyndale and Clark both drilled a pair of pressure free throws.
Things still aren’t perfect in Owl-land.
Sergio Olmos committed four fouls in 12 ineffective minutes. Brooks shot poorly for the second straight game. Guzman aggravated his hip pointer when he crashed to the floor in the first half. He played only four minutes.
As a team, the Owls had their worst rebounding night in A-10 play, surrendering 16 offensive boards.
But Lavoy Allen (8 points, 8 rebounds) played Fordham center Bryant Dunston (9 points, 12 rebounds) to a near stalemate. Allen continued his habit of grabbing huge offensive rebounds with the game on the line. If only he could manage a few putbacks.
Temple committed a John Chaney-like four turnovers.
With a few more wins, this might start looking like a John Chaney-like run towards the postseason.
Coach Fran Dunphy Postgame: Listen to Audio
Chris Clark Postgame: Listen to Audio
Mark Tyndale Postgame: Listen to Audio
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