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EVENTS
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ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Lynn Greer scored 21 points as Temple used its stifling defense to build a huge lead and defeat Penn State, 84-72, in an NCAA Tournament South Region semifinal at the Georgia Dome. The Owls (24-12) will face Michigan State on Sunday with the winner advancing to Minneapolis for the Final Four. Greg Jefferson finished with a career-high 15 points and Kevin Lyde contributed 13 and 13 rebounds. Temple improved to 5-0 in "Sweet 16" games under John Chaney, who has never led a team to the Final Four. "It's just something that happens," Chaney said of reaching the regional final. "I was just happy to get back to the Tournament, hoping we could get it going at the right time of year. It's most surprising that we have been this successful with only seven usable players." Gyasi Cline-Heard had seven points as Penn State held a 14-12 advantage with 13:16 left in the first half. Nothing went right for the Nittany Lions thereafter. Greer had six points and Jefferson had four as the Owls used a 17-2 run for a 29-16 lead with 6:23 to go. Greer had the final four points of the first half for a 39-21 lead at halftime. "It is the best that we have played this year," Greer said. "We have been shutting down the other team's scorers all year and now we just don't want to lose." The Owls' defense forced the Nittany Lions into 2-of-13 shooting from beyond the arc in the first half. The Nittany Lions recovered to convert 11-of-20 in the second half to finish at 39 percent (13-of-33). "I knew they had guys taking a lot of long shots," Chaney said. "I just didn't want our guys to get caught flying at their shooters. I think we were very lucky tonight. You could see what kind of team they have been this year by how well they shot in the second half." A 3-pointer by Wadley gave Temple a 44-21 lead 40 seconds into the second half. Jefferson's three-point play made it 66-45 with just under seven minutes left before Penn State made a late rally. The Nittany Lions scored nine straight points, including back-to-back 3-pointers by Brandon Watkins, to cut the deficit to 66-54 with 4:48 left. A 3-pointer by Jon Crispin cut the deficit to 72-62 with just under three minutes left. But four free throws by Greer and a pair by freshman David Hawkins gave the Owls a 78-62 lead with 2:15 remaining. "I think that your defense feeds off of your offense," Penn State coach Jerry Dunn said. "We got some decent looks at the basket early on. I think some of the shots that we took were down and kind of rimmed out." Titus Ivory led Penn State (21-12) with 20 points while Cline-Heard added 18. Twin brothers Joe and Jon Crispin, the Nittany Lions' starting backcourt, combined to make just 6-of-21 shots. "They did a very good job of forcing us out," Joe Crispin said. "We did have some good looks but didn't do a good job at knocking them down. I know I had a few and Jon had a few (that) we definitely would have liked to have made, but that's what they force you to do." The Nittany Lions also made just 13-of-21 free throws, including a 6-of-10 showing by Cline-Heard. Joe Crispin had 12 points before fouling out. The Owls also held a 44-27 rebounding edge, including 16 offensive boards. Jefferson grabbed seven rebounds and Wadley and Alex Wesby each had six. But much of the post-game talk centered on getting Chaney to the Final Four. "It would mean a lot for him and it would mean a lot to us," Hawkins said. "We have worked hard this season and it has really paid of. It will be a great match-up against Michigan State on Sunday." . |
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