Williams scores 28 points in homecoming, UMass upsets Temple 79-74 in A-10 quarterfinals
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Chaz Williams had his second straight big game back home in Brooklyn, scoring 28 points as UMass upset Temple 79-74 on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament.
The Minutemen sent their rivals out of the A-10 with a loss and advanced to face VCU in Saturday's semifinals.
Terrell Vinson scored 15 points, including a 3-pointer in the final minute with the shot clock winding down and UMass clinging to a two-point lead.
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Conference player of the year Khalif Wyatt shot just 4 for 19 for third-seeded Temple. He was 9 for 10 on free throws to finish with 19 points.
It was the teams' 66th meeting, but their last in the A-10 with the Owls leaving to join the Big East's football schools.
Temple (23-9) led by three with more than seven minutes left when Williams took over late for the second night in a row. The 5-foot-9 guard drove into the Temple defense on five straight possessions.
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He drew fouls twice and hit the free throws both times, made two layups, and dished to Cady Lalanne for an inside basket that gave UMass a 67-64 lead with more than four minutes to go.
The Minutemen (21-10) were up 68-66 with less than two minutes remaining when Temple nearly got a steal. Instead, Freddie Riley made a 3-pointer. He also finished with 15 points.
After Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson hit a jumper to pull the Owls within 71-68, Will Cummings thought he had a steal of Williams but was called for the foul. Williams made both free throws with 70 seconds left.
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Wyatt hit a 3-pointer with Riley's hand in his face to pull Temple within 73-71 with 55.6 seconds to go.
UMass outrebounded Temple 40-23 but committed 19 turnovers.