For the second time this season, the number one team in the country shut down Temple. The Owls have played 17 no. 1 seeds in program history, and have only upset 2. In the season opener, Temple fell hard to a number one North Carolina, and Villanova would be no different. Coach Dunphy recognizes “Villanova is a terrific basketball program and they played well.”
The game seemed like it was going to be a close one in the first minutes of the game. The crowd was loud, the arena was energetic, and Villanova was missing shots. However, Temple was missing more shots, “…we didn’t run a good enough offense,” admits Coach Dunphy.
In their last game of the Big 5, the seniors did not take full advantage of the opportunity to say the least. Both Quenton DeCosey and Jaylen Bond got into foul trouble in the second half, and only scored four points between them in the first half. Devin Coleman, Mr. Reliable, did not score at all. Coach Dunphy explains, “…we need Dev,” so naturally when he contributes 0 points, it heavily effects the team.
Villanova shot the lights out while Temple could not even buy bucket at times. Nova shot 50% from the field and 35% from behind the arc. Temple shot 41% from the field and 33% from the 3, and only 64.3% from the stripe.
Although the seniors did not carry the team, the underclassmen stepped up for both teams. In a hostile environment; Villanova freshmen, Jalen Brunson, was flawless against his father’s alma mater. The crowd taunted Brunson, but Dunphy proclaims, “That’s what drives the great ones.” Brunson is not the only freshmen that stole the show, Trey Lowe left the crowd in awe after a game that was less than stellar for the Owls.
Coach Dunphy says, “I thought they were terrific…Jalen Brunson was terrific…on our side I thought Trey Lowe seized the moment.” Lowe achieved a career high, the same career high as senior captain, Jaylen Bond, of 21 points. Lowe scored all 21 points in only 20 minutes of play and went 5/8 from behind the arc as well as a few rim shaking slam dunks. When asked what sparked such an offensive performance, Lowe credits it to his coaches that preach, “…play within the game, and everything will come to you,” and the game certainly came to him.
Although a 83-67 loss in a sold out arena is never easy, it does not effect the Owl’s post season play. Temple still leads the AAC with a 10-3 conference record, and their overall record is still far in the positives at 16-9 overall.
Owl Fans are MAKING NOISE pic.twitter.com/09wKgttgDI
— The Sports Desk (@TU_SportsDesk) February 18, 2016
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