Temple Loses Its Luster in OT

With its best player sitting court-side in a wheelchair, Seton Hall toppled Temple and coaching legend John Chaney.

Tommy Amaker, the Pirate coach, understood the significance.

“I mentioned to [Chaney] that it was an honor for us to play his team,” Amaker said.

The pleasure was all Amaker’s.

Reserve guard Ty Shine made up for the absence of Shaheen Holloway by scoring 26 points and Seton Hall won, 67-65, in overtime Sunday in the second round of the East Regional before 19,351 at HSBC Arena.

Shine’s seventh three-point basket put Seton Hall ahead, 66-65, and center Samuel Dalembert forced Temple’s Lynn Greer into making an errant pass in the key with 4.8 seconds left in overtime.

Greer drove into the key and jumped as if to shoot, but with the 6-foot-11 Dalembert in his face tried to pass to Lamont Barnes underneath and the ball rolled out of bounds.

“There is always one team you dread,” said Chaney, who has never been to the Final Four in 18 seasons at Temple. “If you got over that game you were better off for it. . . . Today, we weren’t able to do it.”

Holloway, whose length-of-the-court drive for a layup gave Seton Hall a first-round overtime victory against Oregon, sprained his left ankle while making a layup eight minutes into Sunday’s game. At the time, Temple led, 14-8, but No. 10-seeded Seton Hall didn’t flinch, tying the score, 23-23, and staying with the No. 2-seeded Owls throughout.

Kevin Wilkins missed an open 10-foot shot that could have won it for the Pirates in regulation, but Seton Hall would not be denied in overtime.

“We’ve all seen in sports that when the best player or a leader is injured, it draws the team closer together,” Amaker said. “We beat a team that probably had the opportunity to win it all. You can see how difficult it is for a great team and a great coach to get to the promised land.”

Rimas Kaukenas scored 18 points and Darius Lane had 14 points and 11 rebounds for Seton Hall. Mark Karcher scored 27 for Temple.