Men's Basketball Opens Season Strong, Topping NJIT, 72-60

Saturday, December 19

4:30 PM

Temple University

1-0,0-0AAC

NJIT

0-1,0-0America East

NJIT

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Men's Basketball Opens Season Strong, Topping NJIT, 72-60

12.19.20 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Postgame Interviews

PHILADELPHIA – The long-awaited debut of the 2020-21 Temple men's basketball season was worth the wait, as the Owls looked very sharp in posting a 72-60 win over NJIT in front of cardboard cutouts at the Liacouras Center Saturday evening.

Senior captain De'Vondre Perry recorded his first collegiate double-double, scoring 12 points and pulling down a career-high 14 rebounds. Jeremiah Williams looked more than comfortable running the Cherry and White offense, tallying 11 points and dishing four assists in becoming the first Temple freshman guard to start a season opener since Mardy Collins in 2002.

Recapping the Game
> Temple coach Aaron McKie used 10 players in the contest with five – Williams, Tai Strickland, Brendan Barry, Nick Jourdain and Quincy Ademokoya - making their Owl debuts. All but Ademokoya scoring in the victory.
> Redshirt freshman Damian Dunn, who only played in one game in 2019-20, led all scorers with 18 points. He also contributed seven rebounds and five assists.
> The Owls jumped out to a quick 9-0 run and never looked back, building a lead of 19-points (55-36) with 13:36 to play before the Highlanders ran off 11 straight to cut the deficit to single digits, 55-47.
> Senior captain J.P. Moorman II, who had not taken a shot over the first 34 minutes, made a free throw and drained three three-pointers for 10 straight Temple points, making a 60-50 lead an insurmountable 70-54 advantage with 1:15 to play.

Statistically Speaking
> Four Owls scored in double figures with nine players scoring in the team effort.
> Temple out-rebounded NJIT, 50-33, and dished 16 assists on 22 field goals.
> The Owls defense held the Highlanders to 34.3 percent shooting from the field, and 27.8 percent from long range.

Next Up
> Temple travels to #6/8 Houston to open its American Athletic Conference slate Tuesday, Dec. 22 (8 pm/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT)