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No. 22 Temple edges La Salle in OT

Feb 23, 2012 - 3:51 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Khalif Wyatt netted 25 points while Micheal Eric added a double-double with 18 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks as No. 22 Temple edged La Salle in overtime, 80-79, to win its 11th consecutive game.

Earl Pettis and Sam Mills each missed potential game-winning three-pointers in the final five seconds of overtime for La Salle.

"Sam's shot looked like it was in," La Salle head coach Dr. John Giannini said of Mills' potential game-winning shot. "This league's incredible. The difference between winning and losing is minuscule."

Ramone Moore scored 18 points to go with nine rebounds and five assists, but was just 5-of-16 from the floor for Temple (22-5, 11-2 A-10), which hasn't won 11 in a row since a 13-game run during the 1999-2000 campaign.

Pettis had a game-high 33 points for the Explorers (18-10, 7-6), who overcame a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes of regulation to force overtime. La Salle has lost four of its last five games.

Trailing 70-60 with 4:05 left, Pettis closed the game on a personal 11-1 run to force overtime. His trey with 1:25 left in regulation tied the game at 71.

Moore was key during a 9-0 Owls spurt in the extra session.

He tied the game at 74 with a three-pointer and then nailed a jumper on Temple's ensuing possession to give the visitors a two-point edge. Wyatt and Juan Fernandez each hit a pair of foul shots to cap the surge and give the Owls an 80-74 lead with 2:01 to play.

Once again, though, the Explorers charged back as Tyreek Duren's trey and Pettis' jumper made it 80-79 with 55 seconds remaining.

Fernandez missed a jumper with 37 seconds left, leading to the frantic finish, where La Salle was unable to capitalize on two three-point opportunities, allowing the Owls to escape with the victory.

A 10-0 run by the Owls, punctuated by Aaron Brown's trey from the left corner, gave the visitors a 28-18 advantage with 6:03 to play in the first stanza.

The Explorers, though, rallied as back-to-back dunks by Ramon Galloway and Devon White capped a 9-2 spurt to close the half as La Salle pulled within 32-29 heading into the break. Eric finished the half with 12 points, seven rebounds and three blocks.

La Salle took a one-point lead, 50-49, midway through the second half after Duren's three-pointer and two Jerrell Wright free throws capped an 11-2 flurry.

But Wyatt gave the Owls a 59-50 advantage after a personal 10-0 run.

He started the surge with a trey and then stole the ball from Duren and took it the other way for a jam. He then hit another three-pointer and jumper to cap the flurry.

"He was spectacular," Temple head coach Fran Dunphy said of Wyatt. "He's a great offensive player, he's a fearless kind of kid."

Game Notes

La Salle has lost two straight home games after beginning the year with 12 consecutive home wins...The Explorers have lost 24 straight games against ranked opponents, which includes four losses to the Owls...Temple outrebounded La Salle 40-33.