20120108

Chronicowls '12 Temple-Dayton


It’s been more than two years that a Chronicowls post has followed a Temple basketball loss at the Liacouras Center.  Never may we  see again in our lifetime such a streak.
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Eleven minutes, thirty-eight seconds remain in the game.  The Owls ahead by six, 55-49. Dayton has just been called for an intentional foul. Ramone Moore at the foul line for two shots, followed by Temple’s keeping possession of the ball.  What followed had to be the turning point.  Two missed foul shots, two missed jumpers, and then a Temple foul. Within a minute  Temple’s lead had SHRUNK to two.
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Hardly, then,  did we expect that the final eight minutes might be the finest we’ll see a team play  this season.  With 8 minutes remaining, Temple led by 3 points. Then Dayton proceeded to make 70 % of their shots from the field, 80% from beyond the three-point line, and 12 of 13 free throws. 30 points in all over these final eight minutes. As many points as Dayton had scored the entire first half.  Almost double the points the Owls could muster. And that’s what brought the two-year winning streak to an end.
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The crowd of just over 5000 fans was a disappointment. Not much of a walk-up sale. Surely would-be fans weren’t deterred by the weather, which was unseasonably mild and sun-splashed..
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The Chickie and Pete’s crab walk, a time-out activity involving two students having to make a foul shot after crab-walking two lengths of the court, proved  to be more difficult than the originators counted on. I guess we shouldn’t have been surprised – I’m not sure I could reach the basket from the foul line after just having crab-walked close to 200 feet. Anyway, the game was delayed for what seemed like a minute while the contestants failed to make any of a dozen shots from the foul line. The Dunkin' Donuts race between students decked out in coffee cups (iced and hot) is far more interesting.
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The Diamond Gems rehearsed the performance they’ll be giving at the collegiate dance team championships. I preferred their second number of the evening.
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A convivial group had a post-game meal at North Third, in northern Liberties, following the game. Recommended.

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