Temple University Athletics

Tuesday, December 6
Philadelphia, PA
7:00 P.M.

Temple University

6-4,0-0AAC

70
vs
60

Saint Joseph's

3-5,0-0Atlantic 10

1
2
F
Saint Joseph's
26
34
60
Temple
29
41
70
Khalif Battle
Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Men’s Basketball Wins Share of the Big 5 Title, Downs Saint Joseph’s, 70-60

12.6.22 | Men's Basketball

PHILADELPHIA – Khalif Battle scored a team-high 19 points and Zach Hicks recorded his first career double-double (10 pts, 10 rebs) as Temple earned a share of the Philadelphia Big 5 title for the first time since the 2012-13 season with a 70-60 victory over Saint Joseph's Tuesday at the Liacouras Center.  It was also the fourth straight win for the Owls (6-4, 3-0 Big 5) while the Hawks fall to 3-5 (1-1).

Hysier Miller added 11 points while Damian Dunn added six points and a game and career-high tying six assists. 

Cameron Brown topped all scorers with 25 points (7-8 FG, 5-6 3PT) and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Saint Joseph's.

First Half
> The Owls led for most of the opening 20 minutes until the Hawks went on an 8-0 run to take a 19-16 lead with 4:43 on the clock on a Brown three-pointer.
> Hicks and Battle drained consecutive three-pointers to put the Owls back in front.  It was just the second and third treys by the Cherry and White, ending a 1-12 stretch from behind the arc.
>  Brown, who led all scorers with 13 points in the half, put SJU back ahead, 24-22, on a three-pointer with two minutes left, but the Owls closed out the half on a 7-2 run with Miller scoring five points including a three to provide the Cherry and White a 29-26 edge at the break.
> Both teams struggled to the find the basket in the opening 20 minutes with Temple shooting (12-32, 38%) and Saint Joseph's (10-25, 40%). 
 
Second Half
> The Owls built a nine-point lead (42-33) on a 13-6 run to open the half.  Dunn, who was scoreless in the first 20 minutes, drained two threes in the stretch.
> Temple would hold the Hawks at arms' length for the 10 minutes of the half, and finally extended the margin to double figures on a Jourdan putback with 9:38 remaining.
> Erik Reynolds II then scored seven of the next 10 points to cut the lead to 56-48 with just under eight to play.
> Temple would then go on another 13-6, taking a commanding 68-54 lead on a Hicks dunk with 2:22 to play.   
> SJU was unable to get closer than the final score the rest of the way.
 
Game Notes
> The Owls will be looking for their first undefeated and outright Big 5 title since the 2009-10 season with a win at Penn Saturday.

Next Up
> Temple wraps up Philadelphia Big 5 play on Saturday when the Owls travel to The Palestra to take on Penn (1 pm/CSN Philly/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT).
 
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