San Juan, Puerto Rico- Out of the Owls first four games, three of their opponents have been ranked in the top 25. The first half against Utah was basically an exchange of buckets right until approximately the four-minute mark. The Utes then went on 15-6 run giving them a 9-point lead, 39-30, heading into the second half. The Owls just could not stop Jakob Poeltl; Utah’s big man had 19 points in the first half alone, 7 coming from free throws. The Owls opponents once again got to the line more then them. Utah shot a total of 32 free throws while Temple shot a total of 9. The Owls out fouled the Utes 27-13.
In the beginning of the second half Utah began to put Temple away; they held a 14-point lead with over 17 minutes remaining. Slowly but surely the Owls began to chip away at the Utes double digit lead and reclaim the lead by 1 point with 3 minutes left to play. Temple fired 3 after 3 to eventually cut the lead. With just one minute on the clock the game is all tied up 68-68. Utah took a 2-point lead with under 30 seconds to go. Daniel Dingle had a chance to tie it up at the line, but missed both foul shots. Temple resorted to fouling in the final seconds of the game. Josh Brown was called for a flagrant with less than 5 seconds remaining, and that sealed the deal for Temple. Poeltl made both free throws, and Utah takes the win 74-68.
Quenton Decosey and Obi Enechionyia led the Owls offensively. Decosey dropped 14 points and picked up 5 rebounds, and Enechionyia contributed 13-points. Devin Coleman and Jaylen Bond combined for 10 rebounds, grabbing 5 a piece.
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