Temple has time to savor its thumping of Toledo. May as well enjoy the laughers now and get the deep reserves all the garbage time they can play, because tougher teams are sure to give the Owls fits.
Micheal Eric had 14 points and nine rebounds to lead five starters in double-digit scoring and No. 22 Temple beat Toledo 82-49 on Sunday.
The Owls (2-0) dominated from the opening tip and had little resistance from the undermanned and overwhelmed Rockets. The Owls had five starters scoring in double figures before the midway point of the second half in their first game against Toledo (0-2) since 1986.
Temple went on early 12-0 and 13-0 runs in a rare automatic W among a loaded nonconference schedule. No. 1 Duke, No. 6 Villanova, No. 20 Georgetown and Maryland are all on the schedule for coach Fran Dunphy's Owls.
''Everything was kind of going our way, but it was a situation where Toledo was outmanned,'' Dunphy said.
Ramone Moore and Lavoy Allen each scored 12 points for Temple, Scootie Randall had 11 and Juan Fernandez 10.
The Rockets lost their second straight game to a ranked team, losing the opener to No. 13 Illinois, 84-45.
Toledo lost its 34th straight road game.
Temple can thank its football team for these easy MAC games. The Owls are obligated to play Mid-American Conference teams as part of the agreement that lets the football team play in that conference.
After opening with wins over Seton Hall and Toledo in three days, the Owls face an 11-day break.
''I think we're getting better, that's what you hope,'' Dunphy said. ''We were sloppy at the end of the game Friday night. We eliminated some of that sloppiness today.''
Moore was the Atlantic 10's sixth man of the year last season and has quickly found his niche in the starting lineup. He led the Owls with 14 points in the season-opening win against Seton Hall and scored nine in the first half against Toledo. Moore's been solid with his shot, 12 for 23 in the first two games.
Toledo's Zack Leahy, who scored 15 points, hit his first two shots for a 4-2 lead. Temple took over from there.
Randall hit a 3 for the lead and, after one more basket by Leahy, the Owls started a 12-0 run that put the game away. Randall and Moore hit 3s during the run, and Eric scored consecutive baskets to deflate the Rockets.
''We were able to score inside mostly at will because we wanted to score,'' Eric said.
The Owls kept pestering Toledo and capitalized off nine first-half turnovers. Fernandez picked off a pass in the lane and fed to Moore for a nice bucket in transition and a 38-13 lead. That capped the 13-0 run and helped the Owls lead 40-16 at halftime.
Moore opened the second half with a 3 and Randall wowed the crowd with a thunderous dunk that made it 45-18.
About the only suspense from there was when Temple was going to empty the bench.
Jake Godino, who earned a roster spot last season as a walk-on, scored his first career points on a 3-pointer with 2:44 left that drew a roar from the crowd.
''Seeing him out there, making shots, playing really well, it felt really good for us as a team,'' Eric said. ''It showed we are a team right there.''
Godino will have time to savor the points - Temple won't play again until Nov. 25.
''Not much we can do about it,'' Dunphy said.
Dunphy had to be pleased the Owls never got sloppy even as the game turned into a rout. The Owls had only six turnovers and 26 assists on 36 field goals, the kind of numbers they'll need to knock off those future Top 25 opponents.
Allen, Randall and Eric had no turnovers, and Fernandez and Moore each had one.
''When you're playing a team that is outmanned, you want the intensity to remain where it is, and we did what we needed to do there,'' Dunphy said.
Dunphy's only minor complaint was 4 for 7 from the free-throw line, but there was little reason for Toledo to foul.
Toledo kept playing hard and shot 50 percent in the second half.
''We have to understand that we have to do the basic things well and not commit turnovers,'' Toledo coach Tod Kowalczyk said.
