Rose Leads Men's Basketball Over UCF in League Opener

Tuesday, December 31

Orlando, FL

2:00 P.M.

Temple University

9-3,1-0AAC

UCF

9-4,0-1AAC

Temple

UCF

Photo by: Mary Holt

Rose Leads Men's Basketball Over UCF in League Opener

12.31.19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

ORLANDO, Fla. - A late second-half run lifted the Temple men's basketball team over UCF in the team's conference opener. With the win, the Owls improve to 9-3 (1-0 AAC).

The win marked the first time in four years that Temple has earned a win at UCF, with the Knights winning the last three in Addition Financial Arena. It also marked the first time in four years that Temple has won its league opener.

Game Summary
> Temple trailed the Knights for most of the game, taking an early lead before falling behind.
> A three-minute 6-0 run from Quinton Rose to end the game sealed the win for the Owls.
> Rose's 16 points led the team, with De'Vondre Perry (11) being the other double-digit scorer for the Owls. Rose led both teams, while Dre Fuller, Jr. led UCF with 14.
> Nate Pierre-Louis led the team in rebounds with 11 and steals with four.
> The Owls shot nearly 38 percent, draining 20 field goals and seven from long range.

First Half
> Temple started off slow, going down by nine with under 12 minutes left in the first half.
> The Owls went on a 10-0 run to take an 18-17 lead, but the Knights went ahead by four with 7:48 left on the clock.
> Temple tied the game at 22, but UCF regained the lead with four minutes left to halftime.
> The first half saw four lead changes and two ties, with Temple heading into the second half trailing the Knights 33-28.
> The Owls struggled from the field, shooting 34.5 percent (10-of-29) and going 4-of-10 from behind the arc.
> Josh Pierre-Louis led the team with eight first-half points, while brother Nate recorded five rebounds and three assists.

Second Half
> Both teams traded buckets to open the second half, with the Owls cutting UCF's lead to just three.
> A free throw from Jake Forrester put the score at 42-40 but a trey from Darin Green, Jr. gave the Knights a seven-point lead.
> J.P. Moorman II tied the game at 56, sinking back-to-back baskets with just under four minutes left in the half.
> Temple took its first lead since the beginning of the first half, knocking down two buckets and a free throw.
> The Owl defense forced four turnovers in over two minutes and held the Knights without a field goal for over four minutes with 1:30 left in the game.
> The Owls went on a 6-0 run over the last three minutes to ice the game.

Up Next
> The Owls will close out their two-game road-stretch at Tulsa on Jan. 3 before hosting Houston on Jan. 7 for Temple's conference opener. Tip off against the Hurricane is set for 9 p.m. on ESPNU.