Dionte Christmas scored 29 points on seven three-pointers and Ryan Brooks and Sergio Olmos each scored 14 points as Temple basketball team captured its second consecutive Atlantic 10 Championship with 69-64 victory over Duquesne basketball from Boardwalk Hall on Saturday evening.The championship is Temple's eighth Atlantic 10 title, the most of any team in the conference.
The Owls also became the first team to repeat as champions since the 2001 Owl team successfully defended its crown.
With the win, the Owls earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season.
Christmas was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament, the first repeat winner of the award since UMass' Harper Williams in 1992-93. Brooks and Olmos were also named to the A-10 All-Championship team.
With the win, the Owls are assured a spot in the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. The Cherry and White will await word from the NCAA Selection Committee on Sunday as to location and time.
Christmas was named the Most Outstanding Performer of the tournament, the first repeat winner of the award since UMass's Harper Williams in 1992-93. Brooks and Olmos were also named to the A-10 All-Championship team.
Just as he has for his entire Temple career, Christmas shined on the biggest stage. He scored 29 points, his highest point total since scoring 27 points on January 28th against Rhode Island. His seven three-pointers tied a season-high and tied an A-10 Championship game record.
Sophomore Lavoy Allen recorded his 13th double-double of the season and second in as many games, scoring 10 points and pulling down 14 rebounds. Along with his 14 points, All-Championship performer Olmos added nine rebounds and three blocks.
Up 32-27 entering the second half, the Owls were able to extend the lead all the way to 12 points with 8:31 remaining in the second half thanks to the clutch shooting of Christmas and Olmos.
But just when it looked as if the Owls would turn the game into a second-half rout, the Dukes made their final push.
Duquesne's Aaron Jackson, who was also named to the All-Championship Team, converted a four-point- play to cut the lead to 62-55 with 7:11 remaining. After holding the Owls scoreless for the next three minutes, Duquesne's Damian Saunders scored off an inbound pass to trim the lead to 62-57 with just 4:40 remaining in the game.
With the title now seemingly slipping away, Brooks stepped up - just as he did all tournament - with a huge three-pointer just when the Owls needed it. His tightly-guarded three with 4:05 remaining gave the Owls a 65-57 advantage and stopped the Duquesne rally dead in its track.
With the Cherry and White up 65-59 and under two minutes to play, the Dukes began the hack-an-Owl technique to try to extend the game. But with only two team fouls up to that point in the half and with the Owls successfully playing keep away, the Cherry and White would stay off the line until there was only :50 seconds remaining in the game.
And fittingly, it was Christmas at the line to seal the game. He hit two free-throws with :50 seconds left to give the Owls a 67-59 lead.
The final exclamation point on the Owls' repeat came with Allen's breakaway dunk with :11 seconds remaining to bring the game to 69-61.
From the opening tip, the pace of the game was fast and the points came in bunches. Both teams finished the half shooting over 50% percent, with Christmas hitting six threes in the first half and Brooks adding three of his own. Freshman Juan Fernandez's fade away shot as time expired in the first half gave the Owls a 42-37 lead heading into the locker room.
Jackson led the Dukes with 20 points. Saunders scored 15 while Bill Clark added 13 points.
Ironically, the Owls' 69-64 victory marks the second consecutive season that the Owls won the A-10 Championship by that score.
The Temple basketball team will be holding a Selection Show party, open to the public, tomorrow at 5:00 p.m. from the Fox-Gattis Room in the Liacouras Center. Come join the team to see where it is seeded in the NCAA bracket.
By Temple Athletics release.
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