Xavier 54, Temple 53

3/4/2007 3:53 PM

By JOE KAY
AP Sports Writer

CINCINNATI (AP) -Joei Clyburn made a driving layup and a free throw in the final 31 seconds Sunday, rallying Xavier to a 54-53 victory over Temple in the Atlantic 10 tournament semifinals.

The Musketeers (25-7) will play for the title Monday on their home court against fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's, which upset No. 8 George Washington in the other semifinal.

Xavier, the No. 3 seed, stretched its winning streak to nine games with its second straight one-point victory in the tournament. The Musketeers haven't won it since they took back-to-back titles in 2000 and 2001.

Saint Joseph's (19-12) will be trying for its first A10 tournament championship since 1999.

Temple (24-7) had won the last three conference tournament titles and four of the last five. The Owls also had won their last six games against Xavier, and were in position to extend that streak midway through the second half.

Kamesha Hairston, the Atlantic 10 player of the year, made consecutive jumpers that started a 12-1 run and put the Owls up by nine points, the biggest lead of the game. Clyburn brought Xavier back with a driving basket, a 3-pointer and a free throw, then made the two biggest shots at the end.

After Hairston's three-point play tied it with 1:34 to go, Clyburn made a driving basket that put Xavier up 53-51 with 31 seconds remaining. Hairston tied it again with an 18-foot jumper.

Clyburn was fouled on a drive to the basket with 7.9 seconds left, then made the first of her two free throws. Temple called a timeout to set up a play for Hairston, who took a pass at the left side of the key, dribbled to her right and missed a leaning jumper at the buzzer.

Hairston finished with 18 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Shenita Landry had 17 rebounds for Temple, which dominated the boards 47-35.