Dalton Pepper scored a career-high 33 points for the Owls, including 27 second half points, but Temple's comeback fell just short, as they lost to #15 Cincinnati this afternoon at the Liacouras Center. The win was the 12th straight for the Bearcats, who remained undefeated in AAC play with the 80-76 triumph over the Owls.
Sean Kilpatrick got the Bearcats off to a fast start, as Cincinnati took a 13-8 lead behind 12 points from the redshirt senior. Temple would utilize a 7-2 run to tie the game at 15 on a pair of free throws by Will Cummings, giving the guard 9 of the Owls' points.
The game would again be tied at 19, but with Owls struggling to shoot, to the tune of 26.9 percent in the half, the Bearcats would close the half on a 17-7 run to go to the locker rooms ahead 36-26.
Will Cummings led the Owls with 9 points in the half, going 6-7 from the free throw line, as the Owls struggled immensely from the field. Kilpatrick would cause big problems for the Owls on defense, as Temple struggled to contain the guard, who tallied 16 in the half.
Cincinnati would open the half on an 11-4 run to extend their lead to 47-30, but Dalton Pepper would begin to heat up, leading a charging Owls squad. Temple would cut the deficit to just 67-57, as Pepper continuously found the basket.
Pepper would hit a three-pointer to put Temple down just 71-65, while also giving the senior a new career-high for points. There would continue to be no stopping the guard, as he hit yet another three to tie the game at 76 with 36.9 seconds left.
The make would give Pepper the most three's in a game for a Temple player this season with eight, but the Bearcats would still have time to work with. With just 7.2 seconds remaining Kilpatrick would go to the line and make two free throws for Cincinnati, as they regained the lead.
"We were right there at the last play. It was tied up...Two or three stops here and there throughout the game would put us over the ledge at the end of the game."
A layup by Josh Brown would be blocked with two seconds remaining, as the Bearcats held on to win by a final of 80-76.
"I just wanted it to go in, whoever shot it," Pepper said of the final shot by Temple.
Pepper would have a career game in the loss for the Owls, finishing with 33 points to surpass his previous career-high of 26 in a game.
"The second half he was just tremendous. He was a superstar in the second half," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said of Pepper's play. "Obviously he propelled us to get back into the game. We were in a little bit of trouble."
Kilpatrick would have quite the game of his own for the Bearcats, finishing with a new season-high of 29 points, just 4 shy of tying his career-high.
The loss drops the Owls to 5-13 on the season, as they remain winless in conference play in 2013-14.
"Will it help us later on? That's the hope," Dunphy said of the loss.
Temple will be back in action Wednesday, when they welcome Rutgers to the Liacouras Center. The Scarlet Knights won the previous matchup between the two team on New Year's Day, kicking off the current eight-game losing streak for the Owls.
By: Kyle Babcock
The game would again be tied at 19, but with Owls struggling to shoot, to the tune of 26.9 percent in the half, the Bearcats would close the half on a 17-7 run to go to the locker rooms ahead 36-26.
Will Cummings led the Owls with 9 points in the half, going 6-7 from the free throw line, as the Owls struggled immensely from the field. Kilpatrick would cause big problems for the Owls on defense, as Temple struggled to contain the guard, who tallied 16 in the half.
Cincinnati would open the half on an 11-4 run to extend their lead to 47-30, but Dalton Pepper would begin to heat up, leading a charging Owls squad. Temple would cut the deficit to just 67-57, as Pepper continuously found the basket.
Pepper would hit a three-pointer to put Temple down just 71-65, while also giving the senior a new career-high for points. There would continue to be no stopping the guard, as he hit yet another three to tie the game at 76 with 36.9 seconds left.
The make would give Pepper the most three's in a game for a Temple player this season with eight, but the Bearcats would still have time to work with. With just 7.2 seconds remaining Kilpatrick would go to the line and make two free throws for Cincinnati, as they regained the lead.
"We were right there at the last play. It was tied up...Two or three stops here and there throughout the game would put us over the ledge at the end of the game."
A layup by Josh Brown would be blocked with two seconds remaining, as the Bearcats held on to win by a final of 80-76.
"I just wanted it to go in, whoever shot it," Pepper said of the final shot by Temple.
Pepper would have a career game in the loss for the Owls, finishing with 33 points to surpass his previous career-high of 26 in a game.
"The second half he was just tremendous. He was a superstar in the second half," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said of Pepper's play. "Obviously he propelled us to get back into the game. We were in a little bit of trouble."
Kilpatrick would have quite the game of his own for the Bearcats, finishing with a new season-high of 29 points, just 4 shy of tying his career-high.
The loss drops the Owls to 5-13 on the season, as they remain winless in conference play in 2013-14.
"Will it help us later on? That's the hope," Dunphy said of the loss.
Temple will be back in action Wednesday, when they welcome Rutgers to the Liacouras Center. The Scarlet Knights won the previous matchup between the two team on New Year's Day, kicking off the current eight-game losing streak for the Owls.
By: Kyle Babcock
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