Men's Basketball Uses Explosive First Half to Power Past UConn, 81-63

Wednesday, February 6

Philadelphia, Pa.

6:00 p.m.

Temple University

17-6, 7-3

UConn

13-10, 4-6

UConn

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Men's Basketball Uses Explosive First Half to Power Past UConn, 81-63

2.6.19 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

PHILADELPHIA - Five players scored in double figures to lead Temple men's basketball to a decisive win over UConn, 81-63. The Owls (17-6, 7-3) shot a season-best 62 percent from the field in the opening period, using a 15-0 run for an 18-point lead by the midway point of the half.

Game Summary
> Temple led UConn (13-10, 4-6) wire to wire, and by at least 15 points for all but the first eight minutes of the game.
> The Owls held the Huskies to 4-of-18 shooting from long range while hitting 11-of-23, and outshot UConn 52.7 percent to 40 percent for the game.
> The lead was as many as 28 points for Temple with eight minutes remaining, but the Huskies were strong on the glass in the second half and narrowed the cap to 16 points in the final minute.

Individual Highlights
> Shizz Alston, Jr. led the Owls' five double-figure scorers with 18 points, hitting 4-of-8 three-pointers and dishing five assists.
> Finishing just one rebound shy of a double-double was Quinton Rose who grabbed nine boards and scored 12 points.
> Nate Pierre-Louis scored 17 points, adding four assists and two steals.
> Making his third career start, Justyn Hamilton scored 11 first-half points and finished with a career-high 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
> With 3-of-4 three-pointers made, Alani Moore II finished with a season-high 11 points.

First Half
> Temple scored the first six points to set the tone for an outstanding first half that saw the Owls hit 10 of their first 11 shots from the field.
> With a 15-0 run starting just past the 15-minute mark, Temple built a 28-10 lead near the midway point of the half.
> Hamilton reached double figures with five minutes left in the opening period, hitting back-to-back shots to put Temple up by 21, 37-16.
> Both teams struggled for a couple minutes, but Temple had a better recovery. Pierre-Louis scored the final seven points for the Owls as they closed the half on a 9-4 run for a 46-20 lead at the break.
> The Owls' 46 points were a first-half high for the season, with its 26-point lead also being the largest of the year. Temple shot 62 percent from the field to UConn's 32 percent, and out-rebounded the Huskies 23-10.
> Pierre-Louis led all players with 12 points at halftime, followed by Hamilton with 11.

Second Half
> UConn hit 6-of-10 from the field to start, but Temple countered with 5-of-7 to keep its lead well in the 20s.
> Moore hit three-pointers at the start and end of a 10-0 run that gave the Owls their largest lead of 28 points, 74-46 with 7:55 remaining.
> UConn's second-half dominance on the glass (31-7 rebound advantage) began to be a problem for Temple down the stretch, and the Huskies scored eight straight before ultimately using a 17-5 run to come within 16 points, 79-63 in the final minute.
> Temple's bench got its chance at the end of the game, and Quentin Jackson, Jr. scored the game's final bucket to put the Owls over 80 points.

Up Next
> Temple will head to Tulsa for a noon (ET) contest on Saturday, Feb. 9 (ESPNU / 1210 AM WPHT).