Temple defeats Saint Joseph’s, 78-72

Courtesy of SJUHawks.com

PHILADELPHIA – Obi Enechionyia scored 26 points, including a three-pointer that iced the game with 1:09 left to lead Temple to a 78-72 win over Saint Joseph’s in a Philadelphia Big 5 game at sold-out Hagan Arena. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Temple on SJU’s campus.

Shavar Newkirk led Saint Joseph’s (3-3; 0-1 Big 5) with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists, to record his fourth consecutive 20-plus point game. Backcourt mate Lamarr Kimble had 12 points and tied his career-high with nine assists.

Quinton Rose had 14 points and six rebounds for Temple (5-2; 2-0) with Shizz Alston, Jr., adding 11 points and five assists.

With Temple leading 73-69 with 2:48 to play, SJU freshman Nick Robinson hit a three-point play to pull the Hawks within 73-72. Daniel Dingle tipped in an offensive rebound at 1:35 and Enechionyia blocked a Saint Joseph’s shot and then hit the game-sealing three-pointer. The Hawks had a few more possessions but couldn’t connect on three field goal attempts in the final minute of play.

Saint Joseph’s trailed for most of the second half, but took a 56-55 lead at 9:16 on a three-point play by sophomore Markell Lodge, who scored a personal best nine points. Temple quickly regained the lead and used a 9-2 run to take a 64-58 lead with 6:14 to play. SJU would pull within one point of the Owls three more times, but couldn’t take the lead.

The Hawks came out blazing in the first half, and ignited the soldout crowd by jumping out to an early 11-2 lead. Temple got on track and outscored SJU, 14-2, to tie the game at 16-16. The Owls led by as much as five points in the first half and held a 34-31 halftime lead.

Saint Joseph’s made a season-high 12 three-pointers in the game as Newkirk went 5-for-6 from behind the arc, while Kimble and freshman Charlie Brown each hit three long-range field goals.

The Hawks play their second straight Big 5 game when they visit rival and second-ranked Villanova on Saturday afternoon. The 1 p.m. game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.