ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- Back and forth, back and forth! This feels more like a heavyweight fight than a Big 5 battle. After a Darnell Harris three -- he now has 18 -- gave La Salle the lead, Sergio Olmos hit a lay-in to tie the score. Two free throws by Chris Clark has put Temple back ahead, 77-75, with 1:30 left.

Dionte Christmas has 27, but it's been role players Clark (8 points), Ryan Brooks (8) and Olmos (14) who have helped Temple hold off La Salle's best shot. Yves Mekongo Mbala has 16 points and Rodney Green has 20 for the Explorers.