Owls Burnt by Sun Devils

MIAMI (AP) -- The Temple Owls won't get out of the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the second straight year.

The No. 11-seeded Owls lost to the Arizona State Sun Devils 66-57 on Friday afternoon.

Temple (22-12) fell behind in the first half and never came closer than three points again.

Owls sharpshooter Dionte Christmas led Temple with 29 points on 8-of-16 shooting.

Sun Devils' star James Harden made only one field goal Friday but it was a big one.

ASU's scoring leader struggled most of the game but sank a 3-pointer with 4:02 left to help hold off Temple in the first round of the NCAA tournament.

Harden went 1-for-8 and was held to nine points, less than half his average. But junior Derek Glasser scored a career-high 22 points and Jeff Pendergraph also had 22 for the Sun Devils, who shot 51 percent.

Sixth-seeded Arizona State (25-9) reached the 25-win milestone for the first time since 1975. They play Sunday against Syracuse (27-9), which beat Stephen F. Austin 59-44.

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