Men's Basketball Takes Over First Place in The American With a 77-65 Win Over USF

Sunday, February 14

Liacouras Center

3:00 p.m.

Temple University

16-8, 10-3

USF

5-21, 2-11

USF

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Men's Basketball Takes Over First Place in The American With a 77-65 Win Over USF

2.14.16 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - With a 77-65 win over visiting USF on Sunday afternoon, Temple men's basketball won its fifth straight game and has taken over sole possession of first place in the American Athletic Conference with a record of 10-3. The Owls (16-8 overall) had five players reach double figures in scoring for the first time this season, led by senior Jaylen Bond and sophomore Obi Enechionyia with 18 points apiece.

Bond made it his seventh double-double of the season, tying his season-high and leading all players with 14 rebounds. Senior Quenton DeCosey added six assists to 12 points, and junior Josh Brown came just one assist shy of a double-double with 11 points and nine assists to tie his season high.

Rounding out Temple's double-figure scorers was senior Devin Coleman with 10 points. Jahmal McMurray led all players in the game with 24 points for USF (5-21, 2-11).

The game was rarely in doubt, save for a short stretch early in the second half. Temple started strong and led by double digits for the most of the first half, but allowed USF within four early in the second. An 11-0 run widened the gap back to 15 just past the midway point of the second half, and the Owls stayed well ahead the rest of the way.

The Owls got off to an extremely hot start in the first half, hitting 14 of their first 18 shots from the field including five of their first seven attempts from long range. DeCosey scored eight of the Owls' first 10 points, while Enechionyia scored 13 points in less than 11 minutes to start the game. The Owls built their lead to as many as 15 points on two occasions, the second at 34-19 with 7:30 remaining.

After shooting at an 80 percent clip or better for the first 13 minutes, Temple's pace slowed. UCF closed the half with 12 points to the Owls' six, including a half court shot by Jahmal McMurray at the buzzer, cutting Temple's lead to 40-31 at the break.

Temple turned the ball over just twice in the first period, finishing with a 7-0 advantage in points off turnovers after forcing eight by the Bulls. Enechionyia's 13 points led the Owls at the break, while Bond had 10 and was already close to the double-double with eight boards.

Fans were treated to a special ceremony at halftime, as Temple honored Hall of Fame Coach John Chaney and his 1990-91 NCAA Elite Eight team on the 25th Anniversary of that special season.

USF began to hit from long range early in the second half, and hit a pair of three-pointers in an 11-3 run that made it a four-point game, 51-47 at 14:17.

After the Bulls got back within four on their next possession, Temple rattled off an 11-0 run with six different scorers to match its largest lead of 15, 64-49 with 9:10 remaining. USF scored the next six points to come back within nine, but would get no closer.

Temple's largest lead in the game was 16 points, 77-61 on a Coleman three-pointer with 2:04 remaining.

The top team in the nation awaits Temple in its next game, a 7 p.m. contest against #1/1 Villanova on Wednesday, Feb. 17 (ESPN2/1210 AM WPHT). The Big 5 game is already sold-out to the public.

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