Courtesy of OwlSports.com.
PHILADELPHIA – On the eve of the New Year, Temple, who is ranked sixth in the nation in all-time wins as a program, closed out 2012 with a bang, as it notched program win No. 1800 with its 75-57 victory over Bowling Green Monday afternoon at The Liacouras Center.
Graduate student Jake O’Brien put up his most points in a Cherry & White uniform to lead the Owls with 15 points, courtesy of his five-of-7seven shooting day, which included a game-high three three-pointers. Playing unselfish basketball, the Owls combined for a season-high 23 assists on 27 baskets, led by senior guard Khalif Wyatt‘s eight helpers, which tied his career high.
For the first time this season, five Owls reached double figures in the scoring department. Joining O’Brien, juniorDalton Pepper, was perfect from the field, going three-for-three to rack up a season-high 10 points. Senior swingman Scootie Randall netted 11 and sophomore Anthony Lee tallied 10, to go along with 10 rebounds apiece, which gave them each their third and second career double-doubles, respectively. Senior Rahlir Hollis-Jeffersonadded 11 points and made a game-high three blocks and two steals.
The Owls, who were never trailed after a Lee lay-up made it 8-6, shot nearly 60 percent (59.3%) in the first half. Temple ownmed a double-figure advantage for the final 25 minutes and built it to 29 points (75-46) before clearing the bench.
Ahead by 14 coming out of the break, Temple continued its accuracy in the opening moments, as they went on a 18-9 run in the opening six and a half minutes to go up by more than 20 points for the first time.
Wyatt, who took the floor for the first time since receiving Atlantic 10 and NBC Sports National Player of the Week honors a week ago, was held scoreless by Bowling Green in the opening 20 minutes, but found his stride in the second session as he went four-for-four at the free throw line, helping him to gather seven points on the day.
Senior A’uston Calhoun was the only Bowling Green player that gave Temple issues, as he knocked down a game-high nine field goals to tally 22 points to lead all scorers.
The combination of Will Cummings (8 points) and T.J. DiLeo held the Falcons leading scorer, Jordan Crawford (2-10 FGs, 4 pts) in check and 13 points below his season average.
From here, the Owls, who are now 10-2 on the year and receiving votes in the latest AP Poll and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll, prepare for Sunday’s 4:30 p.m. ET matchup at #6/6 Kansas (CBS/1210 WPHT AM).
Notes:
– The only other programs to reach at least 1800 wins as a program are: Kentucky (2,098), Kansas (2,081), North Carolina (2,073), Duke (1,982) and Syracuse (1,854).
– Today’s win marked the first-time ever that Temple won on December 31st. Prior to its win over Bowling Green on Monday, the Owls had played just three times on this date, losing to Fresno State in 1998 and to Villanova in 2002 and 2005.
-Temple, now 6-1 at The Liacouras Center this season, has tallied its most wins on its home floor to the start a season before the New Year (Jan. 1) in program history.
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