The state of basketball in Duke and Penn is about as 180 as it gets in sports. While the Blue Devils are a perennial powerhouse, the Quakers of Penn are in a constant struggle to find wins on the schedule. Though the Owls had a gateway match against the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels between the two games, you get the idea of the drastic difference in competition they went up against this week.
The Owls opened the showdown on a tear going on a 12-4 run highlighted by SG Quenton DeCosey. The resilient Quakers settled the score, pun intended, with a run of their own to tie the game at 21. Tony Hicks, Penn’s leading scorer coming into the game, put in work against DeCosey and the Owls.
The shooting guard had 15 at the break but the Owls went up seven to end the first half with key contributions of the bench from 6th man stud Josh Brown and freshman Obi Enechionyia.
The Owls’ rolled with the mo’ early in the second half with threes from PG Will Cummings and SF Mark Williams to go ahead by double digits. Matt Howard couldn’t be contained after the Temple run going for eight out of 10 Quaker points to cut the deficit to just one.
Penn would not roll over late in the second half keeping the game in reach but eventually the Owls would seal the victory with clutch free throws from Josh Brown. Temple wins 76-67 in a Philadelphia out of conference showdown.
Williams went nuts from the floor with a career high 24 points and five boards. The game went as expected with the Owls pulling out a tough victory but still have to address problems in the front court.
They take on the Blackhawks of LIU Brooklyn Sunday at the Liacouras Center.
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