Big Second Half Lifts Men's Basketball Past Rider

Saturday, December 21

1:00 P.M.

Temple University

8-3,0-0AAC

Rider

7-3,1-0MAAC

Rider

Temple

Photo by: Ken Inness/ZUMA Press

Big Second Half Lifts Men's Basketball Past Rider

12.21.19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Following a big second half run, the Temple men's basketball team defeated Rider, 78-66, Saturday afternoon at the Liacouras Center. With the win, the Owls improve to 8-3 before opening conference play to close out 2019. Rider had its five-game win streak snapped and fell to 7-3.

Game Summary
> Sophomore Jake Forrester made his first career start as an Owl, scoring 14 points in his fourth double-digit game of the season.
> Rider gave Temple its largest deficit of the season (14) before the Owls went on a 21-0 run to retake lead, with a three-pointer from Alani Moore II sparking the run.
> Four Owls scored in the double-digits, with Moore's 15 leading Temple. Frederick Scott's 17 points led both teams.

First Half
> Temple struggled from the field, sinking 16 shots and shooting 33 percent behind the arc.
> The Owls put up four points to open the game before Rider took the lead with less than 17 minutes on the clock.
> The Broncs maintained the lead for most of the first half, though Temple never trailed by more than eight.
> At the half, the Owls trailed 41-33.
> Forrester led the team with 10 points in the first half, with Willy Nunez, Jr. leading both teams (13).

Second Half
> Rider opened the second half with two baskets, taking its first double-digit lead of the game with 18 minutes left on the clock and extended the margin to 14, 51-37, with 15:30 remaining.
> Moore and Josh Pierre-Louis (12 pts) drained threes to kick start a 21-0 run by the Owls over the next six minutes to give Temple a 58-51 lead.
> The run included dunks from Quinton Rose, who tied his career-high with nine assists, and De'Vondre Perry, which tied the game at 51-51.
> Temple extended its advantage to 16 (78-62) with just over a minute remaining.
> The Owls shot nearly 57 percent from the field 8in the half, draining seven treys on 12 attempts.

Up Next
> The Owls will open league play on the road, facing UCF on Dec. 31. Tip is set for 2 p.m. on ESPNU.