Comeback Falls Short, Men's Basketball Falls to Houston

Tuesday, January 7

7:00 P.M.

Temple University

9-5,1-2AAC

Houston

12-3,2-0AAC

Houston

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Comeback Falls Short, Men's Basketball Falls to Houston

1.7.20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Despite an electric second half, the Temple men's basketball team fell 78-74 to Houston Tuesday night in the team's home conference opener. The Owls fought back from a 12-point halftime deficit to take the lead late in the game, but the Cougars proved too much. With the loss, the Owls fall to 9-5 (1-2 AAC) on the season.

Game Summary
> Temple kept it close to open the first half before Houston broke the game open, taking a 15-point lead late in the first half.
> Temple made a comeback in the second half, topping the Cougars and taking a two-point lead with just over eight minutes left in the game but Chris Harris, Jr. went 4-of-4 from the field to seal the win.
> Quinton Rose led the team with 21 points, with Nate Pierre-Louis (13) and J.P. Moorman II (10) also scoring in double digits. Caleb Mills led both teams with 23.
> Temple shot 42 percent from the field and 46 percent from behind the arc.

First Half
> The first half started close, with the Owls trailing by no more than six for the first five minutes of the game.
> Houston began to pull away, taking an eight point lead with a trey from DeJon Jarreau.
> The Cougars took their largest lead of the half with just 22 seconds left on the clock, going up 39-24 before a long jumper from J.P. Moorman II put the score at 39-27 going into halftime.
> Temple struggled in rebounding, being outrebounded by Houston 32-13.

Second Half
> Temple opened the half hot, going on an 11-2 run in the first three minutes and keeping Houston scoreless for over two minutes.
> The Owls cut Houston's lead to two on a trey from Rose with 16:24 left in the game.
> A pair of free throws from De'Vondre Perry tied the game at 56 and the Owls took their first lead on the next possession on a layup from Monty Scott with eight minutes left on the clock.
> Houston retook the lead and both teams traded baskets, but the Cougars maintained their lead and sealed the game on a pair of free throws.

Next Up
> Temple will remain home for the second of a three-game homestand, hosting Tulane on Jan. 11. Tip off against the Green Wave is set for 12 p.m. on ESPNU.