Temple University Athletics
Wednesday, December 30
2:00 P.M.
Temple University
1-2,0-2AAC
71
vs
79
SMU
6-0,2-0AAC
1
2
F
SMU
37
42
79
Temple
32
39
71
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Men's Basketball Falls to SMU, 79-71
12.30.20 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – Temple (1-2, 0-2 AAC) battled undefeated SMU (6-0, 2-0) in a hard-fought effort, but the Owls came up short, 79-71, Wednesday afternoon at the Liacouras Center. Grad transfer Brendan Barry (17 points), redshirt freshman Damian Dunn (15 points) and freshman Jeremiah Williams (13) led the Owls, while Darius McNeil topped four SMU double-digit scorers with 15 points.
First Half
> The teams went back and forth in the first half with the Owls scoring the first six points before relinquishing the lead on a 13-3 SMU run making it 13-9 with 14:11 on the clock.
> After Temple answered with five straight points on a steal and layup from Williams and a three-pointer from Barry, the Mustangs would score 12 of the next 14 points to open its largest lead of the period, 27-16, with just over eight minutes left in the half.
> Barry then connected on consecutive threes and Dunn drained a long two to cap an 8-2 Owl run, cutting the deficit to 29-24.
>Jake Forrester then closed the half out strong for Temple, scoring the final six Owl points and grabbing four rebounds in the final three minutes to keep the margin at five points (37-32) at the break.
Second Half
> Temple retook the lead early in the second half, 47-46, with a three-pointer by Dunn and a J.P. Moorman II layup capping a 5-0 run.
> SMU rebounded with eight straight points to regain the lead, 54-47, before Tai Strickland ended the run with a free throw at the 11:35 mark.
> The teams then traded baskets with Temple cutting it to a one-point possession, 63-60, on another Strickland free throw with just over six minutes left in the game.
> SMU then went on an 8-2 run, for its largest second half lead, 71-62, on a Kendrick Davis layup.
>The Owls could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Statistically Speaking
>Forrester pulled down a career high 12 rebounds to go along with seven points.
Next Up
> Temple opens 2021 with a home game against Memphis on Saturday, Jan. 2 (12 pm/ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT).
First Half
> The teams went back and forth in the first half with the Owls scoring the first six points before relinquishing the lead on a 13-3 SMU run making it 13-9 with 14:11 on the clock.
> After Temple answered with five straight points on a steal and layup from Williams and a three-pointer from Barry, the Mustangs would score 12 of the next 14 points to open its largest lead of the period, 27-16, with just over eight minutes left in the half.
> Barry then connected on consecutive threes and Dunn drained a long two to cap an 8-2 Owl run, cutting the deficit to 29-24.
>Jake Forrester then closed the half out strong for Temple, scoring the final six Owl points and grabbing four rebounds in the final three minutes to keep the margin at five points (37-32) at the break.
Second Half
> Temple retook the lead early in the second half, 47-46, with a three-pointer by Dunn and a J.P. Moorman II layup capping a 5-0 run.
> SMU rebounded with eight straight points to regain the lead, 54-47, before Tai Strickland ended the run with a free throw at the 11:35 mark.
> The teams then traded baskets with Temple cutting it to a one-point possession, 63-60, on another Strickland free throw with just over six minutes left in the game.
> SMU then went on an 8-2 run, for its largest second half lead, 71-62, on a Kendrick Davis layup.
>The Owls could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.
Statistically Speaking
>Forrester pulled down a career high 12 rebounds to go along with seven points.
Next Up
> Temple opens 2021 with a home game against Memphis on Saturday, Jan. 2 (12 pm/ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT).
Team Stats
SMU
Temple
FG%
.517
.368
3FG%
.400
.290
FT%
.500
.667
RB
38
43
TO
9
9
STL
3
5
Game Leaders
Scoring
Pts
17
FGM
6
3FGM
5
FTM
0
Pts
15
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
4
Pts
13
FGM
5
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
9
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's BasketballG
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's BasketballG
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