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National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Temple 90, Massachusetts 88
When: 7:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Officials: # Brian O'Connell, # John Gaffney, # Todd Williams
Attendance: 6519

TEMPLE 90, MASSACHUSETTS 88: Khalif Wyatt had a game-high 26 points, including the winning layup with 15 seconds left in overtime as the host Owls rallied from a six-point deficit in the extra session.

Temple (23-6, 12-3 A-10) gained at least a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season championship. The Owls can earn the outright title - their second in three years - with either a victory against Fordham on Saturday or with a Saint Louis loss to Duquesne.

Temple, which blew a nine-point lead over the final 3:42 of regulation, missed its first five shots of overtime and committed a pair of turnovers, falling behind 86-80.

But the Owls pulled even at 88 with 1 minute left on Wyatt’s three-point play, and the junior guard followed with a breakaway layup.

The Minutemen (19-10, 8-7), who lost for the fourth time in its last five games, had three chances to tie on its final possession. Jesse Morgan’s baseline jumper caromed off the rim, and two final attempts at a tip-in - including one by Maxie Esho that just missed going in - were unsuccessful as time expired.

Chaz Williams had 26 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds for the Minutemen, who shot 12 for 24 from 3-point range. Terrell Vinson and Raphiael Putney each finished with 16 points.

Micheal Eric scored all 19 of his points after halftime and finished with 15 rebounds for Temple, which forced 17 Minutemen turnovers. Juan Fernandez had 18 points and Ramone Moore added 13 points and six rebounds.

Temple finished 30 for 40 from the free throw line; UMass 6 for 10.

UMass led 37-32 at halftime.

GAME NOTEBOOK:
Putney and Vinson fouled out for Massachusetts. … Temple improved to 25-4 against the Minutemen at the Liacouras Center … With Eric in the lineup, the Owls are 14-2 this season. … Morgan, who had 15 points, received a technical foul with 2:53 remaining. … Wyatt attempted the second-most free throws (18) in a game for Temple.
Top Game Performances
 
Massachusetts   Temple
Chaz Williams 26 Scoring Khalif Wyatt 26
Chaz Williams 11 Assists Khalif Wyatt 6
Raphial Putney 8 Rebounds Michael Eric 15
Raphial Putney 4 Free Throws Made Khalif Wyatt 17
Chaz Williams 4 Steals Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson 3
Sean Carter 2 Blocks Michael Eric 3
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Massachusetts 88 44.9 12-24 6-10 16 40 4 9 17
Temple 90 39.1 6-21 30-40 17 42 6 11 15