Temple University Athletics
Temple University
USF
Men's Basketball Falls 82-75 to USF in First American Athletic Conference Home Game
1.9.14 | Men's Basketball
Box Score (PDF) l Photo Gallery | Dunphy Interview | Players Interview
PHILADELPHIA - With a 16-3 run late in the second half, visiting USF took a lead on Temple men's basketball and held it through the end as the Owls (5-8, 0-3) dropped an 82-75 decision to the Bulls (10-6, 1-2) in their first American Athletic Conference home game.
Anthony Lee scored 22 points and made it his sixth double-double of the season with 10 rebounds. Quenton DeCosey scored 20 and Dalton Pepper added 17.
Junior Jimmy McDonnell, who had nine career points entering the game, scored a career-high 10 points including two three-pointers.
The Owls' leading scorer Will Cummings was held to two points in the first half after suffering an early hit, and was then sidelined in the second half due to concussion-like symptoms.
USF's Victor Rudd led all players with 23 points while also pulling down 10 boards. The Bulls led Temple 40-30 on the glass thanks to Rudd and John Egnunu's game-high 11 rebounds.
The first three-pointer of Lee's career came with 9:22 left in the game, and gave Temple its third 10-point lead of the contest, 66-56. It would be the only field goal for the Owls for the next five minutes of action, as USF's 16-3 run put the Bulls ahead by three, 72-69 with 5:32 on the clock.
USF did not relinquish that lead the rest of the way. DeCosey hit Temple's 10th three-pointer of the contest to pull the Owls within one, 75-74 with 2:05 left, but his free throw at 25 seconds would be Temple's only point the rest of the way. The Bulls hit 3-of-4 at the line in the final 23 seconds, while all three of Temple's field goal attempts missed the mark.
McDonnell's points were a highlight of the second half, as he scored all 10 over a seven-minute stretch including both three-pointers within a minute and 10 seconds at 17:35 and 16:25.
Thanks to Lee's performance putting him over 14 points per game for the season, Temple is now the only Division I team in the country with four players averaging 14 or more points.
After jumping out to a 22-12 lead in the first half, the Owls let the Bulls back into it in the latter part of the period. USF used a 9-1 run to tie the game at 23-23 with 5:37 remaining, which was the first of three ties down the stretch.
Rudd hit a three-pointer at 2:19 to give USF a four-point lead, its largest lead of the half, 31-27. Pepper answered with his third trey of the half and neither team led by more than two in the remaining time.
The teams were tied 34-34 at the break. Rudd led all players at the break with 12 points, while Lee and Pepper both had 11 for the Owls. DeCosey was also in double figures by the break with 10 points.
Next up for the Owls is a 3:00 p.m. game vs. #24/22 Memphis on Saturday, Jan. 11. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
