Nov. 21, 2008

Box Score

EASTON, Pa. - The Lafayette men's basketball team experienced its first loss of the season on Friday night, 71-55, to Temple.

Though the Leopards (2-1) played evenly with Temple (3-1) in the first half, the Owls came out firing in the second half to lead by as many as 26 points. Reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year Dionte Christmas fueled the win with 29 points and 12 rebounds.

Senior Andrew Brown, who scored more than 20 points in each of Lafayette's first two outings, was held to three points, his lowest offensive production in 18 games.

After guard Jeff Kari's three-pointer opened the game, Lafayette fell behind 9-3 in the first five minutes. Kari led the Leopards by tying his career-high 16 points.

The Leopards pushed back as freshman guard Nick Petkovich drained a three-pointer from the left corner, spurring Lafayette on a 10-2 run. Sophomore forward Darion Benbow hit a jumper, and Lafayette regained a 13-11 lead at 11:21 remaining.

From that point on, the lead tied four times and traded hands four times, never exceeding more than four points until Temple went on a 12-4 run to close out the half with a 40-32 lead. That momentum stayed with the Owls after the break as Temple never relinquished its advantage again.

The Leopards wrap up their three-game homestand on Sunday with a 1 p.m. matchup against Rider. The Broncs come to Kirby Sports Center fresh off a 69-68 win at Lehigh on Thursday night.

Game Notes *The last time Brown scored three points was on Jan. 5, 2008, in a 77-53 loss against Mississippi State.

*Jared Mintz scored a career-high 12 points. His previous best was nine, which he achieved in Lafayette's season opener at Wagner on Nov. 14.

*Andy Moore and Rob Delaney clocked their first career minutes, becoming the final of Lafayette's seven freshman to play this year. Delaney also scored his first career points, off a three-pointer, and sunk two free throws for a total of three points.

*The attendance for Friday's game was 3,297, the highest attendance for a Lafayette game so far this season.