Atlantic City, NJ -- (Sports Network) - Dionte Christmas posted a game-high 29 points, including seven three-pointers, as Temple locked up a trip to the NCAA Tournament with a 69-64 victory over Duquesne in the Atlantic 10 final from Boardwalk Hall.
Ryan Brooks and Sergio Olmos added 14 points each for the Owls (22-11), who clinched their eighth conference championship and second in as many seasons.
Lavoy Allen contributed 10 points and a game-best 14 rebounds for Temple, which topped rival Saint Joseph's last year, and recorded back-to-back league titles for the first time since John Chaney's 2000-01 squads accomplished the feat.
Aaron Jackson scored 20 points for the Dukes (21-12), who reached the A-10 final for the first time since 1981 but failed in their bid for an NCAA berth since winning the conference title in 1977.
Damian Saunders posted 15 points and 10 boards while Bill Clark added 13 points for Duquesne.
The Owls picked up the first five points of the second half to open up a 10- point bulge a minute and a half in on a Brooks make, then extended their lead to 53-42 on an Olmos bucket with 14:24 left in the contest.
It was 60-48 with 8:31 to play after Christmas hit a layup, but a three from Jackson made it a nine-point game.
Saunders' runner with 4:48 to play brought the Dukes within 62-57, but a long trey from Brooks boosted the Owls to an eight-point bulge. Still, Duquesne was unbowed, getting to 65-59 on another two from Saunders with 3:43 left before going cold inside, outside, and at the line.
The Dukes missed eight consecutive shots and the front end of a one-and-one down the stretch until a Jackson dunk cut the Owls' advantage to 67-61 with 17 seconds to play. Allen's ensuing slam opened up an eight-point margin for Temple and a three from Jackson came too late.
A 7-0 Temple run put them up 15-11 roughly 6 1/2 minutes into the contest on an Olmos deuce, and Temple's lead reached as high as 21-16 before a brief Duquesne burst capped with an emphatic dunk by Saunders made it 27-26 with a little more than seven minutes left in the half.
The Dukes continued to press and assumed a 35-32 lead after Saunders unloaded a three from the left side with 4:22 to go. However, Temple reversed momentum with a 10-2 burst to take a 42-37 lead into the break thanks to a falling 15- footer from Juan Fernandez.
Game Notes
Temple reached the A-10 final for the 15th time and has won the conference playoff crown seven previous times (1985, 1987-88, 1990, 2000-01, 2008)...Owls guard Semaj Inge led all players with eight assists...Olmos also recorded three blocks...Temple enjoyed a 41-30 edge on the boards, but were only able to force five Duquesne turnovers while committing eight.
