UMass ousts Temple from A-10 Tournament

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 either St. Bonaventure or St. Joseph's Saturday. St. Louis University, La Salle, Xavier and Dayton are the other A-10 teams looking to grab the league's automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. 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.