City of Basketball Love

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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Just two weeks after knocking off then-No. 23 Cincinnati on the Bearcats’ home court, Temple welcomed their American Athletic Conference rivals to Philadelphia for 40 minutes of basketball and then some. Though it took two overtimes, the Owls emerged victorious over the Bearcats for the second time this season, 67-65.

At First…
The first half was an ugly one, with both teams shooting below 40 percent overall as the Bearcats held a 24-22 lead after 20 minutes. Temple was just 9-of-27 (33.3 percent) to open the game, including 5-of-20 (25.0 percent) from anybody not named Quenton DeCosey. Temple eventually built up a lead of as many as eight points in the second half thanks to some timely shooting by senior Devin Coleman, though Cincinnati battled back to send it into overtime.

Bearcats junior guard Troy Capuain played hero for Cinci at the end of regulation and the first overtime, hitting game-tying shots with under 15 seconds left in each situation.

Turning Point…
Caupain's two foul shots put Cinci up 65-62 with two minutes left in double overtime, and with the shot clock running down on Temple's next possession, things started to look dire for the Owls--until Coleman hit his fifth and biggest triple of the afternoon, a shot from well beyond the NBA arc to tie it at 65. Then, after Cincinnati couldn't convert on its own end, Jaylen Bond collected a desperation heave by Obi Enechionyia at the end of the shot clock and put it back for a 67-65 Temple lead with 15 seconds left.

Standout Stars…
DeCosey was the Owls’ only reliable source of offense all game long, finishing with 22. The senior and Temple's leading scorer entering play on Saturday (15.4 ppg) hit the 20-point mark for the sixth time this season. Coleman added 15 points, all on 3-pointers (5-of-10).

Noteworthy Number(s)...
44.4: The Owls managed the win despite shooting just 8-of-18 from the foul line, including two missed 1&1 opportunities. Temple's been solid from on free throws this season (72.3 percent) but made less than half from the charity stripe for the second time this year (6-14 vs. UConn); both of those occasions, however, have been wins.

20: Freshman forward Ernest Aflakpui’s new career best in minutes played. The Archbishop Carroll product was given the start at center for the second game in a row and rewarded Dunphy with easily the best game of his young collegiate career, finishing with six points, three rebounds, a steal and a block.

Up Next…
Temple (9-7, 4-2 American) vs. La Salle (Jan. 20, 7 PM)
Cincinnati (13-6, 3-3 American) vs. Memphis (Jan. 21, 7 PM)