In basketball, unlike any other sport, one player has the capability to put a team on its back or lead it to victory.
In the case of the Temple Owls, that player is senior guard Lynn Greer.
Behind Greer and his game-high 47 points, the Owls (3-2 overall) outlasted a furious second half comeback by Wisconsin, winning a 70-67 double-overtime thriller Monday at the Kohl Center.
Temple Head Coach John Chaney said he was thrilled to get out of Madison with a victory.
\We could have cracked up [during Wisconsin's late run], but I think both teams stayed right in it until the very end,"" Chaney said. ""I am just overwhelmed and delighted to come away with the win.""
The win was even sweeter due to the absence of Temple senior forward Kevin Lyde. The 6'10' forward was not available for last night's game due to a sprained ankle that he suffered in the Owls' Dec. 1 win against Penn State.
Wisconsin (2-5 overall) seemed on the verge of never having a chance to win. Shooting only three of 18 on three-point attempts, the Badgers could not break the Owls' match-up zone. To exacerbate the problem, Greer was white hot, connecting on eight of 13 attempts in the opening half.
Then Wisconsin showed its resiliency.
Behind the youthful exuberance and play of sophomore guard Freddie Owens and freshman guard Devin Harris, the Badgers brought the Kohl Center crowd of 15,132 to a deafening cacophony as UW came back from an 11-point halftime deficit to take the lead 53-50 with more than 13 seconds remaining in the second half.
Then Greer connected on a three-pointer, silencing the crowd and forcing overtime.
In the first overtime session, each team traded an initial basket, with Harris making a three to give the Badgers a one-point advantage.
Swapping baskets for the next three minutes, the Badgers stood seemingly on the precipice of winning when freshman forward Mike Wilkinson calmly knocked down two free throws to give Wisconsin a three-point lead with six seconds left.
Greer, though, struck again.
Taking Owens off the dribble, the Philadelphia, native calmly hit a 26-foot three pointer with one second remaining to send the game into another overtime.
""He started backing me off so he could make that shot and when he went to shoot it, I lunged at him,"" Owens said. ""I didn't expect him to shoot it from that deep.""
By the second overtime, fatigue was becoming a factor for both schools, but the Owls had enough to hold off a last-second shot attempt by Wisconsin senior point guard Travon Davis that could have sent the game into a third extra period.
""My hands and legs were really shaking on the bench, and I told the guys we have three minutes [in the second overtime] and then we can go home,"" Greer said. ""And the last three minutes, they gave it their all and we came away with the win.""
Despite the fatigue, UW Head Coach Bo Ryan was not going to bench any of the players'Davis, senior forward Charlie Wills, Harris, Owens or Wilkinson'that got the team back into the game.
""They were going to stay on the floor until they either dropped or asked to come out or fouled out,"" Ryan said. ""There wasn't any other player coming off that bench and going in that game.""
Next up for UW is a road game at Ohio Dec. 8, while the Owls travel to Durham, North Carolina to face top-ranked Duke.
As for Greer's performance Monday night, it ranks right up there with the all-time performances in NCAA history.
With his 47-point effort, Greer tied former Princeton Tiger forward Bill Bradley for the second-highest point total ever by a Badger opponent. Only Purdue's Terry Dischinger scored more, carding 50 points against UW in 1962.
In addition, Greer tied the record for most field goals attempted with 18, set by Michigan State guard Scott Skiles and Bradley.
Greer said he was shocked at how he was guarded by the UW defense.
""I was surprised I was not doubled,"" Greer said. ""Usually teams will double me on everything. This was the first time I was not doubled, so I was surprised they let me get the shots off at the end of regulation and overtime.""
But Davis gave Greer all the credit in the world for making the plays down the stretch.
""He's a pro player'he hit tough shots,"" Davis said. ""You got to give credit where credit is due.\
