NEW YORK – Chaz Williams had his second straight big game back home in Brooklyn, scoring 28 points as UMass upset Temple 79-74 on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Atlantic 10 tournament.
The Minutemen sent their rivals out of the A-10 with a loss and advanced to face VCU in Saturday's semifinals.
Terrell Vinson scored 15 points, including a 3-pointer in the final minute with the shot clock winding down and UMass clinging to a two-point lead.
Conference player of the year Khalif Wyatt shot just 4 for 19 for third-seeded Temple. He was 9 for 10 on free throws to finish with 19 points.
It was the teams' 66th meeting, but their last in the A-10 with the Owls leaving to join the Big East's football schools.
Temple (23-9) led by three with more than seven minutes left when Williams took over late for the second night in a row. The 5-foot-9 guard drove into the Temple defense on five straight possessions.
He drew fouls twice and hit the free throws both times, made two layups, and dished to Cady Lalanne for an inside basket that gave UMass a 67-64 lead with more than four minutes to go.
The Minutemen (21-10) were up 68-66 with less than two minutes remaining when Temple nearly got a steal. Instead, Freddie Riley made a 3-pointer. He also finished with 15 points.
After Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson hit a jumper to pull the Owls within 71-68, Will Cummings thought he had a steal of Williams but was called for the foul. Williams made both free throws with 70 seconds left.
Wyatt hit a 3-pointer with Riley's hand in his face to pull Temple within 73-71 with 55.6 seconds to go.
UMass outrebounded Temple 40-23 but committed 19 turnovers.
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