Atlantic 10 Conference Basketball Fans

Temple vs Rhode Island Basketball Recap

Temple 78, Rhode Island 56

On some days, everything breaks right in a basketball gym. Shots feel good the moment they leave the fingertips. The goose-neck follow-through snaps off perfectly. Rhythm, confidence, angular proportionality, the knee bend, the vertical elevation - everything about a shot - falls into place.

That's what the Temple Owls, as a team, felt on Saturday afternoon in Philadelphia. As a result, they affirmed their status as an NCAA Tournament team while forcing Rhode Island to take care of a little more business before feeling too secure.

Yes, Rhode Island is still likely to go dancing, but coach Jim Baron's Rams will need to get back on the beam in the coming weeks after running into a white-jerseyed buzzsaw named Temple at the Liacouras Center. Very few teams in the country would have toppled the Philly force that played virtually flawless basketball on the second weekend of February.

Just how pristine, pure and pretty were the Owls in this game? They shot 69 percent from the field, a school record, but that whopping stat doesn't even do justice to the deeds of Dunphy's dynamos. Temple shot only two foul shots in a game that had only 25 total fouls (10 for URI, 15 for Temple). This means that the Owls had to get 99 percent of their scoring from field goal shooting; their offense was heavily weighted toward the jump shot - which is not a percentage play in the game of roundball - but it worked on this day. The home team hit all six of its 3-point attempts and went a sparkling 29-of-45 on its twos. Repeated stretches of extended offensive excellence - scores on six of seven possessions at one point of the first half, and baskets on the first eight possessions in the second half - enabled Temple to coast home to victory. The Owls led by at least 16 points in the game's final 25 minutes and 29 seconds. The last time URI stood within single digits of Temple? Try the 8:59 mark of the first half.

> Find a nice selection of Atlantic 10 team merchandise as well as A10 basketball tickets online here at a10-fans.com!

Four members of Dunphy's starting five displayed off-the-charts offensive efficiency. Post man Micheal Eric? He went 9 of 10 from the field. Forward Lavoy Allen? How about 8 of 10. Guard Ryan Brooks? He went 7 of 8. Guard Ramone Moore? "Only" 6 of 9. When four starters can shoot at that level, it's goodnight, Irene... and goodbye, Rhode Island.

There can now be no doubts about Temple's tourney credentials. Coach Fran Dunphy's Owls have won several non-conference road games, and they've knocked off Siena, Virginia Tech, and big fish Villanova in the early portion of their schedule. This win allowed Temple to claim a season sweep of Rhode Island in addition to an A-10 triumph over Xavier.  

A warning to teams outside the A-10: If the Owls bring their shooting touch to the building, you're headed home in the middle of March. Just ask Rhode Island after a Saturday of singular excellence in Philadelphia.

By: Matt Zemek
A10-fans.com Staff Writer