Two-time defending champions back in Atlantic 10 Conference final

Fernandez ignites No. 17 Temple over Rhode Island

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Ryan Brooks scored 16 points and No. 17 Temple held Rhode Island to its lowest point total in five years for a 57-44 victory in an Atlantic 10 Conference tournament semifinal Saturday.

Sophomore guard Juan Fernandez once again ignited the top-seeded Owls (28-5), scoring the first seven points and nine overall in the two-time defending champions’ game-opening 15-2 run. The spurt took the air out of Rhode Island (23-9) and left it in a precarious position for the NCAA tournament heading into Selection Sunday.

Fernandez finished with 14 points and matched a career high with seven assists as Temple won its ninth straight game and beat the fifth-seeded Rams for the third time this season. The Owls held URI to 27 percent shooting from the field (16 of 59).

The last time Rhode Island scored fewer points was in a 67-41 loss at Houston on Dec. 27, 2005.