The Temple Owls cruised Tuesday against the Cincinnati Bearcats en route to a 75-59 romp at the Liacouras Center.
Cincy demolished the Owls at home 84-53 (Temple’s last defeat) but the Owls returned the favor shooting over 50 percent for the first time in what seemed like forever.
With PG Will Cummings returning to form, the Owls relied mightily on their lead man in search of their ninth conference victory.
Speaking of Cummings, the senior got the Owls on the board first with a strip, of leading Cincy scorer Troy Caupin, and layup. Erratic marksman Jesse Morgan added on with a three before Caupin answered with a triple of his own.
Following the third Bearcat turnover, Morgan sank another triple as the senior was feeling it behind the arc. Temple was out to a six point lead early. Junior guard Quenton DeCosey knocked down a jumper to push the lead to eight.
Octavius Ellis drove for a layup on the next Cincy possession but rare Devontae Watson jumpers increased the lead to double digits.
The Owls attacked the basket in multiple possessions, something they failed to address in previous games, with Cummings and PF Jaylen Bond getting easy looks to convert.
Temple held onto their advantage by six points or more through the first half and Bond finalized the advantage with a jumper to go up 11 at the break.
Up 36-25, Bond found Watson on a beautiful dish as the big man slammed home two. Cincinnati wouldn’t back down as the three parade came out with three Bearcats hitting long balls to cut the deficit to just five with 14:15 to go.
Cummings pushed the lead back to double digits and the Owls continued the onslaught. A 13-2 run fueled Temple to a 17 point advantage late in the second half. A Jaylen Bond highlight reel dunk and converted free throws from the line highlighted the surge from the cherry and white.
The Owls became the first team to reach the 60 point plateau against the Bearcats and took the contest 75-59.
Will Cummings went 8-13 from the field for a game high 21 points and five assists. Jaylen Bond also proved to be a valuable contributor going 8-11 from the field for 16 points. Farad Cobb led Cincinnati with 13 points off the bench.
Temple (18-7, 9-3) hosts the East Carolina Pirates Saturday at the Liacouras Center.
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