SAN JUAN – Senior guard Ramone Moore scored six of his team-high 23 points in overtime to lead Temple to a 78-74 OT win over Wichita State in the third place game of the 5-hour Energy Puerto Rico Tip-Off Sunday evening at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico. The Owls improve to 3-1 on the season while the Shockers fall to 2-2.
Moore, who averaged 21.7 points in the Owls’ three games and was named to the all-tournament team, took over for the Cherry and White in the final three minutes and the extra frame. After Wichita State, which trailed by eight (54-46) with 6:58 left in regulation, took a 59-57 lead with 2:49 on the clock, Moore stepped up. First he drained a jumper in traffic to tie the game then he made a nice driving lay-up to put the Owls back on top.
David Kyles then hit a trey for WSU to put the Shockers back in front. Senior guard Juan Fernandez, who contributed 15 points, missed a jumper in traffic which led to a foul-line jumper by Toure’ Murry (23 points) to give the defending NIT Champions a 64-61 lead with 1:03 to play.
Fernandez then tied the game on a trey from the right corner. Junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson won a loose ball and found the Argentine sharpshooter, who took a step back and drained the tying basket. The Owls made a defensive stop before junior guard Khalif Wyatt (13 points) launched a long three-pointer in the final seconds of regulation that was off the mark.
The overtime started off strong with graduate student forward Micheal Eric pushing the opening tap to Hollis-Jefferson, who found Moore for a quick basket. It was the start of a 7-0 run with Wyatt adding a jumper and Moore converting a three-point play to give Temple a 71-64 advantage with 3:14 left.
After a WSU basket, Wyatt extended the lead to eight (74-68) on a three-pointer.
The Shockers, picked to finish second in the tough Missouri Valley Conference, would not go away. WSU scored six of the next seven points to cut the margin to three, 75-72, with 39 seconds remaining. Wyatt then made one of two free throws and then followed with a key block on the ensuing possession.
Eric, who posted his second double-double of the tournament (14 points, 12 rebounds), closed out the game with two free throws.
Temple was a perfect four-of-four in the extra period while holding Wichita State to three-of-11 (27.3%) from the floor.
Besides the Owls’ four double scorers, redshirt freshman Anthony Lee played big, especially in the first half with Eric on the bench due to foul trouble. Lee scored three points and grabbed five rebounds in 14 minutes of action.
Temple is off for a week before travelling to Bowling Green for a Sunday afternoon (2:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT) game against the Falcons.
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