Richmond loses A-10 title, at-large bid now?

Tribune News Services

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. -- It's like old times in the Atlantic 10, Temple is once again the conference champion.

Ryan Brooks hit four free throws over the final 50 seconds and the top-seeded and 17th-ranked Owls won their third straight conference tournament title, holding off a gutty rally by Richmond for a 56-52 victory in the championship game on Sunday.

Tournament MVP Juan Fernandez scored 18 points and Brooks and Ramone Moore finished with 12 each for Temple (29-5), which earned a third straight automatic bid to the NCAA tournament and its ninth conference title.

Richmond had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds but David Gonzalvez missed a 3-pointer with 7 seconds to play. The third-seeded Spiders (26-8) are likely to get an at-large berth to the NCAA tournament.