UMass ousts Temple from A-10 Tournament

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J., March 9 (UPI) -- Jesse Morgan and Chaz Williams totaled 41 points and made key late free throws Friday in a 77-71 Massachusetts upset of Temple in the Atlantic 10 Tournament.

Morgan and Williams each hit two free throws in the final 27 seconds in holding off No. 24 Temple (24-7) and earning UMass a slot in the A-10 semifinals.

The Minutemen (22-10) will play St. Bonaventure (17-11) Saturday. The other semifinal will send St. Louis against Xavier.

St. Bonaventure outlasted St. Joseph's 71-68, St. Louis downed LaSalle 78-71 and Xavier posted a thrilling 70-69 decision over Dayton.

Temple entered tournament play having won 13 of its last 14. Included in that stretch was an overtime win against Massachusetts.

Friday's game was close throughout with the Owls taking a 64-62 lead on a 3-point play from Khalif Wyatt with 5:26 to go. Williams, who had 10 assists, then fed Morgan and Javorn Farrell for 3-point baskets and the Minutemen never trailed again.

Temple stayed close but the free throws from Morgan and Williams sealed the upset.

Morgan finished with 21 points and Williams had 20. Ramone Moore led Temple with 14 points while Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson had 13.

St. Bonaventure advanced on a 71-68 win over St. Joseph's (20-12). The Bonnies scored the game's last three points -- all on free throws -- in the final 1:32.

Mark Lyons scored on a layup with 21 seconds left to give Xavier its win over Dayton. Tu Holloway had 21 points for Xavier (20-11). Kevin Dillard had 18 for Dayton (18-12).

St. Louis, which climbed to 25-6, hit 9 3-pointers and made 19-of-22 from the foul line in fighting off LaSalle. Mike McCall led the Billikins with 16 points.

Earl Pettis scored 18 for LaSalle (20-11), which fell into a 12-point hole in the game's first 6 minutes.