Men's Basketball Falls to Rice, 80-74

Sunday, March 1

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 PM

Temple University

15-14,7-9American

Rice

12-17,6-10American

Rice

Temple

Men's Basketball Falls to Rice, 80-74

3.1.26 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Temple University men's basketball team fell to the Rice Owls on Sunday, 80-74. This marks the team's sixth consecutive loss with two games remaining in the regular season.

Aiden Tobiason sparked Temple early as the Owls traded runs with Rice throughout a tightly contested first half, taking a narrow 36-35 lead into the break. The back-and-forth battle continued in the second half, but Rice capitalized late to secure an 80-74 win, handing the Owls their sixth straight loss.

Now tied for ninth in the American alongside Memphis, the Owls (7-9) will look to end this skid in their final two regular season games, hosting Tulane (8-8) on Thursday at the Liacouras Center before traveling to Tulsa (11-5) next Sunday.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Aiden Tobiason set the tone early for Temple, scoring six of the team's first eight points. Rice used a 7-0 run to take a three-point advantage through 6:15 minutes of play.
Needing a push, Gavin Griffiths delivered for Temple. The junior combined a three-point basket and a physical and-one finish as the Owls regained the lead.
While it appeared that Temple's lead was staying steady, Rice answered with a 6-0 run to even the contest at 21. Nick Anderson was able to convert on a four-point play to spark this stretch.
It was a back-and-forth affair approaching halftime, with neither team holding onto an advantage larger than one possession over the final four minutes. Temple held a 36-35 advantage heading into the break.
The start of the second half was more of the same with neither side able to gain a sizeable advantage. Aiden Tobiason was productive through this stretch, scoring six of Temple's opening nine points of the period.
Rice then pushed the pace, gaining the largest lead of the second half by either side at this point, with a three-pointer providing the away team with a six-point lead.
The Road Owls' lead held steady, capitalizing on a 4:22 Temple field goal drought to hold onto a slim advantage. Rice held the lead for over eight minutes heading into the final media timeout of the day.
Rice rode this momentum all the way to the finish line, converting on 5-6 at the free throw line through the final two minutes as Temple lost its sixth straight contest with an 80-74 loss.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Aiden Tobiason (20), Derrian Ford (20), and Masiah Gilyard (11) all finished in double figures for Temple. This marks the second consecutive 20-point game for Derrian Ford.
Five Owls scored at least five points in the first half, led by Derrian Ford (7), Aiden Tobiason (6), and Jamai Felt (6), with Gavin Griffiths (5) and Masiah Gilyard (5) adding to the balance.
The Owls shot 57% from the field (13-23) in the first half, nine percentage points higher than Rice (48%).
Finishing with nine free throws, Ford recorded his highest total from the line since facing East Carolina (Jan. 7).

UP NEXT

The Owls will next play in their home finale at the Liacouras Center, facing the Tulane Green Wave on Thursday, March 5. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m., with the game being available to listen to on Owlsports.com/listen.