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BOX SCORE
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- After watching three higher-ranked teams lose in the past two days, Temple (No. 7 ESPN/USA Today, No. 6 AP) has its sights set on a No.
1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.
|  | | Quincy Wadley and the Owls could be in line for a No. 1 seed if they win the A-10 final. |
The Owls took another step toward possibly getting that berth by
beating Massachusetts 54-47 on Friday night in the Atlantic 10
semifinals.
"We want that No. 1 seed," said Mark Karcher, who scored 14
points and had five assists against UMass. "We don't know how that
works, but we want to keep winning, get momentum and hopefully get
that top seed."
Temple (25-5), seeking its first A-10 tournament title since
1990, will play St. Bonaventure on Saturday in the final. The
Owls might be in position to get the No. 1 seed because No. 1
Cincinnati, Stanford and Ohio State lost in the last
two days.
"It means a lot us to get the No. 1 seed," said Quincy Wadley,
who scored 12 points. "It may not make much of a difference, but
it's supposed to mean you get an easier road to the championship
and that's what we work hard for all year."
Kevin Lyde led Temple with 15 points on 6-for-6 shooting, and
Karcher made some brilliant passes and steals to stave off UMass
(17-15).
Karcher came up with two steals a few possessions apart as UMass
stayed within four points. He then made three clutch passes setting
up easy baskets for Temple, which used a 9-2 run to break open a
two-point game and take a 46-37 lead with 4:27 left to play.
Karcher found Lamont Barnes inside for a layup and a 41-35 lead
with 7:34 remaining. After a basket by Kitwana Rhymer, Karcher
passed to Lyde for a dunk to give Temple a 43-37 lead.
A UMass turnover led to another basket for the Owls as Karcher
again found Barnes inside for a layup to give Temple its biggest
lead to that point, 45-37 with 4:53 left.
UMass did not get closer than six points the rest of the game.
"If my scoring falls off, I want to stay on the floor with my defense," Karcher said.
"I'm really pleased with his hustle and what he brings to the
floor," Temple coach John Chaney said. "But I'd like to see him
get to the line more. He's got to pump-fake the ball more and we're
always telling him that. He's so used to overpowering guys and
shooting that he gets his shot blocked too much."
Karcher shot 4-of-12, including 3-of-8 from 3-point range and
was 3-for-6 at the foul line.
Monty Mack led the Minutemen with 16 points on 5-for-14
shooting. Rhymer added 12. Shannon Crooks had nine points on
4-for-12 shooting.
UMass played patiently against Temple's zone, and stayed close
throughout the game. But the Minutemen could not get a key basket
despite several chances to tie or take the lead in the second half.
"We played our best basketball of the season," UMass coach
Bruiser Flint said. "We did some good things here and I hope we
continue. I think we should be in the NIT."
Pepe Sanchez, Temple's floor leader, scored just one point, had
three assists and three turnovers. He had four steals.
Sanchez did not score until hitting a free throw with 1:53
remaining to give Temple its biggest lead of the game, 49-39.
"It was a horrible game to watch, but we won," Sanchez said. "You have to win some horrible games if you want to win a championship."
Temple shot 18-of-40 (45 percent) while UMass was 16-of-41 (39
percent). The teams combined to shoot 7-for-26 from 3-point range
and committed 23 turnovers. Temple won the battle on the boards,
27-24.
Temple, which has won 16 of its last 17 games, played UMass five
times in the A-10 final, with UMass winning the past four.
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ALSO SEE
Mens College Basketball Scoreboard
Massachusetts Clubhouse
Temple Clubhouse
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