Men’s Basketball Falls in Overtime to Wagner, 76-73, to Open the Season

Monday, November 7

Philadelphia, PA

7:00 P.M.

Temple University

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Wagner

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Wagner

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Men’s Basketball Falls in Overtime to Wagner, 76-73, to Open the Season

11.7.22 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Damian Dunn scored a game-high 29 points and Khalif Battle came off the bench to chip in 16, but it was not enough as Wagner overcame a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Temple, 76-73, Monday night in the season opener at the Liacouras Center.

Dunn made a career-high and tied a school record by making 18-of-18 free throws in the game, and single-handily kept the Owls in the contest during a cold-shooting first half. Battle, who started slowly, caught fire in the final 20 minutes with 13 of his points coming after intermission.

DeLonnie Hunt led four double-figure scorers for Wagner with 19 points while Zaire Williams scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half.

First Half
> The Owls started off the contest looking rusty with only Damian Dunn able to find the basket over the first 12 minutes.
> Dunn scored 13 of the Owls first 15 points, making three-of-four from the field (1-1 3PT) during the first 11 minutes, but Temple still trailed 16-15.
> A three-pointer finally bounced in for sharpshooter Zach Hicks, which gave the Owls an 18-16 advantage and their first lead since the 18-minute mark with 8:15 on the clock.
> The teams traded baskets until Khalif Battle's three-point play – his first basket since game seven of last season – gave the Owls a 29-26 advantage.
> Nick Jourdain added a basket to give Temple a five-point advantage, 31-26, but a basket by DeLonnie Hunt, who finished with 13 first half points, cut the margin to 31-28 at the break.

Second Half
> UCF transfer Jamille Reynolds, who picked up two quick fouls in the first half, quickly asserted himself in the paint, scoring five points in the first five minutes.
> Temple finally started to break away after Khalif Battle scored five points in an 8-2 run to give the Owls their first double-digit lead, 48-38, at the 10-minute mark.
> A driving lay-up by Jourdain and two more free throws by Dunn extended the Owls lead to 54-40.
> The Owls could not put away the pesky Seahawks as Wagner crept back into the game and cut the margin to six, 65-59, with 2:42 to play.
> A minute later Jahbril Noel-Price drained a three from the top of the key to make it 67-64 with 1:11 to play.
> Dunn then was fouled with 43.8 seconds to play and made two free throws to push the margin back to five at 69-64, but Rahmir Moore drained a pull-up jumper eight seconds later to bring it back to a one-possession game.
> Dunn then drove the lane, but lost the ball with eight seconds remaining, setting up a final play for Wagner. Noel-Price then made the Owls pay with a long three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

Overtime
> Neither team scored until midway through the frame when Rob Taylor II put Wagner up on a slam dunk with 2:38 on the clock.
> Jourdain tied it with two free throws before Moore gave Wagner the lead again with a putback at 1:42.
> Temple came up empty on its next two possessions before Moore made one of two from the line to make it a 74-71 lead.
> Dunn then made two free throws, to tie Lynn Greer's school record for most free throws made in a game without a miss (18-18) with five seconds to play, to cut the deficit to one, 74-73, with five seconds to play.
> Noel-Price connected on two free throws with three seconds to play and Battle's desperation three at the buzzer fell short to give the Seahawks the upset victory.
Next Up
> Temple hosts Philadelphia Big 5 rival Villanova Friday (7 pm/ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT)