Chronicowls'13 - Temple - St. Bonnie's

In winning for the first time at Liacouras Center, St. Bonaventure played like a top 25 team.

60% plus accuracy from beyond the three-point arc, 85% shooting from the free-throw line, and an assist-turnover ratio of better than 2:1 (21 assists,10turnovers). And all five starters scored in double figures.  Meanwhile, the Owls took more than half of their shots outside the three-point mark (why, some would ask), and made just about one-third of them.

The better team surely won yesterday afternoon.

Jake O’Brien had 16 points with more than three minutes remaining in the FIRST half. He had scored more than half of Temple’s points, and had brought the Owls back into the lead after another slow start.

When O’Brien committed his second foul with two minutes remaining in the half, Coach Dunphy substituted for him.  The Bonnies then outscored the Owls 11-2 during the reaminder of the half, and went to intermission holding a four-point lead. And O’Brien didn’t score the rest of the game. And Temple never regained the lead.

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School is not back in session, so the Cherry Crusade (student section) was small in number. And the Diamond Gems were absent, as the squad was competing once again at the national championships for dance teams. No word yet on the outcome.  For those who missed the Gems, see photo below.

The Pep Band was present, bolstered by no less than four tubas, and provided plenty of spirit. And the crowd, one of the largest of the season, was enthusiastic, particularly as the Owls mounted a comeback that cut a 12-point deficit to two. That, as it turned out, was as close as the Owls would get in the second half.
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Perhaps one of the finer performances of the afternoon was turned in by the Temple student chosen to “bowl” during one of the timeouts. A hefty prize awaits the student who rolls a bowling ball the length of the court and scores a strike. On most attempts over the course of the season, a “gutter” ball is rolled.  This student knocked down seven of the pins.

And it’s refreshing to see some of the inane games that have passed for entertainment during time-outs replaced by noteworthy recognitions, like the one of a Temple professor with a lengthy list of accomplishments. Too bad someone decided it would be a good time to play loud background music while the PA announcer was reciting the professor’s accomplishments.

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Tough loss, but as one nearby fan commented at game’s end, “That’s the crucible that is the A10”.