Temple University Athletics
Temple University
4-5,0-0American
Saint Joseph's
5-3,0-0Atlantic 10
Temple Edged by Saint Joseph’s on Buzzer-Beater in Big 5 Classic
12.6.25 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – A pair of late free throws from senior point guard Jordan Mason put the Temple University men's basketball team in front in the final seconds, but Saint Joseph's Deuce Jones II answered with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to hand the Owls a 70-69 loss in the Big 5 Classic third-place game Saturday afternoon at Xfinity Mobile Arena.
The Owls (4-5) look to bounce back against Georgian Court on Tuesday evening inside the Liacouras Center. The Hawks (6-5) host Coppin State on Tuesday.
Derrian Ford led the Owls with a career-high 27 points.
The Hawks used a 12-0 run late in the first half to take control, building a 10-point lead. Griffiths led the way early for Temple with nine first-half points, as Saint Joseph's carried an eight-point advantage into the break.
The second half opened with Temple chipping away at the deficit, slicing the lead to four five minutes into the frame. The Owls reclaimed the lead on a jumper from Derrian Ford and held SJU without a field goal for more than five minutes of game clock.
Saint Joseph's responded with a 9-0 run to go up four midway through the second half, sparking a back-and-forth stretch that eventually saw Temple pull even with five minutes remaining. Down the stretch, Griffiths buried a corner 3-pointer to give Temple a three-point edge with just under three minutes to play. Saint Joseph's answered with back-to-back buckets to tie the game at 67 with 30 seconds left.
On the ensuing possession, a foul sent Mason to the line, where he calmly knocked down both free throws to regain the lead. On the final play of regulation, Jones drilled a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from the perimeter to lift the Hawks to a 70-69 win.
Derrian Ford (7-for-15 FG, 11-for-12 FT) recorded a career-high 27 points, his highest total since the 2023–24 season at Arkansas State. He scored 20 points in the second half, the most by any Owl since Jamal Mashburn Jr. registered 20 points in the first half against Monmouth last season.
Gavin Griffiths knocked down a career-high five of his 10 3-point attempts, finishing with 15 points. His five blocks were also a career high, while he added a team-best three steals. He became the first Owl to record five or more blocks in a game since Steve Settle III posted five against SMU in the 2024 American Athletic Conference Tournament.
Aiden Tobiason tallied a career-high eight rebounds to go along with four assists and two steals.
Jordan Mason led the Owls with six assists, marking his third game this season pacing the team.
Temple returns to the Liacouras Center on Tuesday night to face Georgian Court. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m., with the game broadcasted on ESPN+ and available via audio on OwlSports.com/listen.
