Men's Basketball Comes From Behind in Overtime Thriller at Wichita State

Sunday, January 6

Wichita, Kan.

4:00 p.m.

Temple University

11-3 (1-1AAC)

Wichita State

7-7 (0-2AAC)

OT 1

Temple

Wichita St.

Men's Basketball Comes From Behind in Overtime Thriller at Wichita State

1.6.19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Fran Dunphy Postgame Press Conference

WICHITA, Kan. - Senior Shizz Alston, Jr. scored 22 points including the final seven in overtime to help Temple men's basketball earn a thrilling, 85-81 come-from-behind win at Wichita State (7-7, 0-2). It was the first American Athletic Conference win for the Owls (11-3, 1-1), who trailed by as many as 15 and still by 11 with 3:35 left in regulation.

Game Summary
> Temple never led in regulation after the first three minutes, but held Wichita State scoreless over the final three and a half minutes of the second half to force overtime.
> The Shockers led by 13 points at halftime after leading by as many as 15 points twice in the opening period.
> Temple used a 12-1 run to make its initial second-half push, and the game had four ties down the stretch, the last at 63-63 before an 11-0 Wichita State run looked like it would put the game away.
> The Owls fought back yet again, and then took the lead for good in overtime on a Nate Pierre-Louis layup with 2:39 to go.
> Temple forced 22 turnovers while committing only 11, needing that edge to overcome poor free-throw and three-point shooting as well as a nine-rebound deficit.

Individual Highlights
> Alston's 22 points led all Temple players, with Pierre-Louis right behind him at 21 points along with eight rebounds.
> Quinton Rose added a game-best five steals and a game-best five assists to 17 points.
> Alani Moore II and J.P. Moorman both came off the bench for eight points and each hit two key three-pointers for the Owls.
> Ernest Aflakpui added two steals and a career-high three blocks to eight rebounds.

First Half
> Temple hit six of its first nine field goal attempts and hung with the Shockers early, tying the game at 8-8 and trailing by just two at 15-13.
> The Owls missed their first four free throws and gave up too many second chance points, leading to a 14-3 Wichita State run that put the Shockers on top 29-16 with 9:17 left in the first half.
> Wichita State later led by as many as 15 points, 35-20 with 7:15 left before Pierre-Louis both started and capped a 7-0 run that put the Owls back within eight.
> That was as close as Temple could get down the stretch, and the Shockers widened their lead back to 15 points before taking a 13-point, 45-32 lead into the break.
> Wichita State shot 57 percent and out-rebounded the Owls 24-9 in the opening period.

Second Half
> Still down by 12 points at 15:46, a Moorman three-pointer started a 12-1 run that put the Owls within a point, 53-52 at 12:22.
> Back down by five, a Moore trey followed by a Moorman jumper tied the game for the first time since 8-8, at 57-57 with 9:50 left.
> Three more ties followed, the last at 63-63 before Wichita State surged back ahead, using an 11-0 run to take a 74-63 lead at 3:35.
> The Owls showed no quit, holding the Shockers scoreless the rest of the way and fighting back with an 11-0 run of their own to close out the half, started by Rose and including another three-pointer by Moorman.
> Alston capped the 11-0 swing with a jumper at 37 seconds, and the Shockers missed their only field goal attempt with four seconds left.

Overtime
> Wichita State scored first in the extra period, but after a Rose steal and Pierre-Louis dunk, the Owls never trailed again.
> Up just 80-79 near the one-minute mark, Alston drained a long three-pointer as the shot clock expired to put the Owls up 83-79 with 52 seconds left.
> The Shockers got one more bucket to make it a two-point game, but Rose got his fifth steal of the contest after a Wichita State offensive rebound and turnover.
> Alston was fouled with 18 seconds left, and hit both free throws for the final tally of 85-81.
> The Shockers had two chances at the other end thanks to another offensive board, but missed both and Moorman came up with the final rebound.

Up Next
> Temple plays its AAC home opener against Houston on Wednesday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. (ESPNews / 1210 AM WPHT).