Temple University Athletics
SOUTH CAROLINA SECOND HALF RUN SENDS MEN'S BASKETBALL TO THIRD CONSECUTIVE DEFEAT
12.2.02 | Men's Basketball
Once again, rebounding and points in the paint were contributing factors in Temple's defeat. The Owls were out-rebounded, 39-27, and the Gamecocks scored 28 points in the paint to TU's 18. Temple's two big men, Glenn Elliott and Keith Butler, were held to just two points and combined to attempt only one shot. As a whole, the Owls didn't fare well from the field, shooting 33.3 percent (18-54) as South Carolina (4-0) converted 48.1 percent (25-52) of its attempts.
Things looked promising in the first half for the Cherry & White. Before a hostile crowd in a contest labeled the Carolina Center's "Dedication Game," the Owls, behind a stingy defense, established a 19-14 lead with 2:39 showing on the first half clock. The Gamecocks, however, would score the final nine points of the first half and took a 23-19 advantage into the locker room.
Temple regained the lead on three occasions early in the second half, the last lead coming with 12:31 showing on the clock with 34-33 posted on the scoreboard. Carlos Powell hit a three-pointer, however, to give USC a 36-34 advantage and the home team never looked back. The Gamecocks scored 36 of the game's final 52 points to earn the 66-47 victory.
Sophomore Nile Murry paced the Owls in the scoring column, posting a season-high 12 points on five-of-eight shooting, including two three-pointers.
Temple's 47 point output was its lowest since scoring 44 points in a 44-40 win over Penn at the Liacouras Center on January 20, 2000.
The Owls complete their trip down "Tobacco Road" on Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. contest versus Conference USA member Charlotte at Halton Arena. Temple is in the midst of a six-game road trip, the longest in school history.
