NCAAB Game Recap - Temple at Belmont
Tue Mar 19, 2019 9:12 PM EDT

Campbl
69
UNCG
84
F
StFPA
72
Ind
89
F
WriSt
69
Clem
75
F
Hof
78
NCSU
84
F
SDSt
73
Tex
79
F
LoyIL
61
Crei
70
F
USD
60
Mem
74
F
Lipsco
89
David
81
F
Ark
84
Prov
72
F
Dayt
73
Colora
78
F
Temp
70
Belm
81
F
FaDi
82
PVAM
76
F

Belmont 81, Temple 70

Mar 19, 2019, 9:12 PM EDT

Final

1

2

T

(11) Temple

31

39

70

(11) Belmont

37

44

81

Belmont beats Temple 81-70 for first NCAA Tournament win
Wed Mar 20, 2019 12:21 AM

DAYTON, Ohio (AP) A few seconds were still left on the clock when Fran Dunphy headed to midcourt for his final postgame handshake, the outcome long decided. Belmont was simply too much for his Owls.

Nobody else in the NCAA Tournament is excited to face their efficient offense, either.

Kevin McClain scored 29 points and led the decisive second-half run as Belmont got its first NCAA Tournament win, pulling away to an 81-70 victory Tuesday night and ending Dunphy's career in the First Four.

The 11th-seeded Bruins (27-5) play Maryland on Thursday in the East Region.

"We belong in this tournament," said McClain, who finished two points shy of his career high. "You can see that."

Belmont got an at-large bid after losing to Murray State in the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament title game. The Bruins showed the selection committee's faith was not misplaced, getting the breakthrough win on their eighth try.

"I think that they can play in this atmosphere and this is important," coach Rick Byrd said. "I didn't think many times we played well, or knew what we were in offensively, but they found a way to win. And you never play perfect, and I think they've got some toughness about them."

The loss sent Temple (23-10) into a transition. Dunphy is retiring after his 13th season at Temple, where he replaced John Chaney. Dunphy previously coached 17 seasons at Penn.

"The game of basketball has given me way more than I have given to it," Dunphy said.

He was hoping to coach another day, but Belmont's high-scoring offense pulled away at the end. Senior guard Shizz Alston Jr. led the Owls with 21 points.

"That team is smart," Alston said. "They only do what they're good at."

The Bruins entered the tournament second in the nation at 87.4 points per game. The Owls' aim was to slow the high-percentage offense just enough to give themselves a chance. Temple hung in during a first half that featured five lead changes and ended with Belmont ahead 37-31.

The Bruins pushed their lead to 11 points by hitting their first two shots in the second half. Alston, who led the American Athletic Conference at 19.7 points per game, hit three 3-pointers as the Owls surged ahead 50-46. Alston has been the Owls' catalyst, scoring at least 20 points in each of his last nine games.

McClain led a 16-3 run that put Belmont ahead to stay. McClain finished two points shy of his career high.

The Bruins' balanced offense had more than enough even though leading scorer Dylan Windler was held to five points on 2-of-7 shooting, matching his season low. Windler came in averaging 21.4 points.

BIG PICTURE

Temple: Former Owls star Aaron McKie takes over for Dunphy. McKie is an assistant on Dunphy's staff. The Owls haven't won an NCAA Tournament game since 2013, when they beat N.C. State at Dayton before losing in the second round. They went 2-8 in eight appearances under Dunphy.

Belmont: The Bruins got only the second at-large NCAA Tournament bid in Ohio Valley Conference history, along with Middle Tennessee in 1987. They'd dropped their seven appearances when they had automatic bids.

TOURNEY HISTORY

Temple's last NCAA Tournament win was in 2013 over N.C. State in Dayton. The Owls are 33-33 all-time in the tournament.

Belmont is making its eighth NCAA appearance since 2006. Its closest previous brush with a victory was a one-point loss to Duke in 2008.

MOOSE TRACKS

Six-foot-11 freshman center Nick Muszynski missed the OVC title game with a sprained left ankle, injured the previous game. Muszynski, whose nickname is Moose, started Tuesday and had 16 points and four rebounds. He wore a protective boot after the game.

"I thought he played terrific," Byrd said. "We just didn't know what we were going to get. Frankly, yesterday in practice he didn't look very good at all. But he really showed a lot today."

PHILLY FEWER

Philadelphia's Big 5 rivalry lost two of its longtime coaches Tuesday. In addition to Dunphy heading into retirement, Saint Joseph's fired Phil Martelli after his 24th season.

NO STAGE FRIGHT

The crowd at University of Dayton Arena was 11,874, the second-largest Belmont has played in front of this season. The high was 14,804 at Mackey Arena on Dec. 29, when Belmont lost to Purdue 73-62.

UP NEXT

Belmont heads to Jacksonville, Florida, for its game against Maryland.

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Leaders

Temple PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
S. Alston Jr. 21 0 5 3 0 0
N. Pierre-Louis 13 0 5 11 2 0
Belmont PTS +/- AST REB ST BLK
K. McClain 29 0 2 4 0 0
N. Muszynski 16 0 3 4 1 2

Team Comparison

Temp Belm
Points For 70 81
Field Goals 28/71-39% 28/53-53%
Three Pointers 7/22-32% 9/23-39%
Free Throws 7/13-54% 16/21-76%
Offensive Rebounds 15 3
Defensive Rebounds 24 30
Rebounds 43 34
Blocks 1 4
Steals 7 6
Turnovers 11 11
Personal Fouls 22 12
Technical Fouls 0 0
Ejections 0 0

2018-19 March Madness - Belm Leads Series 1-0

Date Result Away Pts Ldr Home Pts Ldr
Tue Mar 19 Temp 70 @ Belm 81 S. Alston Jr. 21 K. McClain 29

Game Information

Stadium: University of Dayton Arena, Dayton, Ohio
Attendance: 11,784
Game Time: