Sharif Chambliss received the pass from DeForrest Riley, squared his feet and let fly with a three pointer from the corner with Penn State trailing Temple 63-61 last night at the Bryce Jordan Center.

It was Chambliss's tenth, and most important, three point attempt of the night. The small crowd looked on holding their collective breaths. But fate was not on Chambliss's or Penn State's side last night. The ball caromed off the rim, then off the Nittany Lions' Jan Jagla as he went for the rebound and then out of bounds.

Temple ball. Owl guard David Hawkins makes two free throws. Game over, 65-63.

It was a matter of inches that separated Penn State (0-6) from their first win and Temple's (1-5) sixth loss, but after the game, the two were a world apart. Stand in Owl coach Nate Blackwell, who is filling in for the ill John Chaney, was so excited that he could barely stay in his chair during the post game interview.

"This is the first time we've played an entire game," Blackwell said. "The kids played hard the whole game and the other coaches were great."

Chambliss on the other hand, looked like he wouldn't mind hitching the next ride out of town, as far away from the Bryce Jordan Center as he could get.

"We just have to make shots when they count," Chambliss said. "DeForrest made a great play to get me the ball, I just didn't make the shot."

Chambliss did lead the Lions with 18 points, backed up by 13 from Riley. A resurgent Alex Wesby led Temple, which fought back from a 32-30 halftime deficit. The 6-6 guard poured in 19 points, 17 of which came in the second half. Penn State has steadily improved since the embarrassing loss to Yale on Dec. 1. It looked like they would finally break through against Temple.

But Wesby was always there, just in time, to demoralize the Lions.

For Penn State the effort cannot be questioned but the results are just as frustrating.