The Men’s and Women’s Teams Both Suffer a Close Loss
PHILADELPHIA, PA. 11/22/2023 –
The Day Before Thanksgiving and Temple University treated the basketball fans to an entertaining day of basketball. In a men’s and women’s doubleheader the Owls teams lost both games by a single point, and an overtime two-point decision. The men’s team played the Ole Miss Rebels and fell 77 – 76. In the second game the women’s team lost in overtime in a Big Five game against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks by a 67 – 65 score. Let’s take a look at the details.
Ole Miss Rebels 77 Temple Owls 76
The game would come down to the wire. It did not appear to be that way as Ole Miss would keep the lead and answer every Temple charge. With just over five minutes to play the Rebels held an 8-point lead. The Owls would answer with three consecutive three-point baskets by guard Matteo Picarelli and two by forward Sam Hofman around a layup by Ole Miss guard Allen Flanigan to pull to with 75 – 74 at the 2:51 mark.
One minute and 12 seconds later Temple took the lead on two free throws by guard Hysier Miller. Each team fought for the decisive basket. Under the Rebels basket a missed shot resulted in both teams fighting for the ball in a rugby scrum. After two rebounds by Mississippi guard Matthew Murrell and missed shots the teams kept after the ball until a jump ball was called by the officials. The arrow pointed towards Ole Miss. Still no one would score until Flanigan sank two free throws at the 9.2 second mark. Over the time the Rebels were good on one of eight shots. Temple would only get three shots since taking the lead, all missed including a last second shot by guard Quante Berry.
“I thought we fought, we played hard, we executed,” said Temple Coach Adam Fisher. “We did a lot of different things, and am really proud of of our effort and our energy to put us in position to win this game.”
Flanigan led Ole Miss with a game-high 26 points making 9 of 13 from the floor, hit both from distance, and sank 6 of 7 free throws. He also led the contest in rebounds with 8 and 7 assists. Guard TJ Caldwell scored 14 points, while Murrell contributed 12 points. The Rebels won the battle of the boards 36 – 29. Both teams put up 59 shots. Mississippi was good on 30 compared to 26 for Temple.
All five starters scored in double figures for Temple. Miller put in a team-high 21 points coming off a career-high 29 point effort against Columbia. Hofman scored 11 points on three from beyond the arc and 2 foul shots for a season-high in points and made three-pointers. He handed out 5 assists which tied a career-high. Zion Stanford equaled his collegiate-best with 14 points and his 7 rebounds set a career-best. Jordan Riley scored 10 points, a season-high, and his 7 rebounds created a collegiate-mark. Picarelli scored 14 points tying his best in made three-point field goals with 4.
Next up is a Big Five battle with La Salle on November 29 at the Liacouras Center.
On to Game Two
Saint Joseph’s Hawks 67 Temple Owls 65 in Overtime
A Big Five game that evolved into one. But early it was all Hawks who lead by a score of 24 – 9 late in the first quarter. But the Owls won the next three quarters and sent the game into overtime. Saint Joe’s would not score a basket in the extra five minutes, but drained 8 of 10 from the line, and the defense limited the Cherry and White to 2 of 10 shooting and just 6 points to take a 67 – 65 city series win. Crazy things happen in Big Five games, and winning yet not scoring a basket in overtime qualifies for that category. But it worked out for the Hawks.
“We’re very good free throw shooters, and when you’re not making baskets the traditional way you’ve got to find different ways to score,” said Saint Joseph’s Coach Cindy Griffin. “We have players that can get to the free throw line whether it be on an offensive rebound or just driving to the basket. That’s how you win these types of games. You’ve got to be able to make layups and make free throws.”
Hawks forward Laura Ziegler scored a team-high 21 points and pulled down a game-best 13 rebounds to register her 11th career double-double. Owls guard Tristen Taylor set her collegiate-bests in points with 21 and rebounds gathering 7 caroms.
In the fourth quarter Temple trailed 49 – 44, but Owls behind guard Aleah Nelson, who scored 16 points, got 5 consecutive to put her team ahead 50 – 49. The teams would go on a see-saw of one-point leads, then one possession leads or ties until Temple took a 59 – 57 edge on a Taylor steal and layup with 1:56 to play.
The Owls had a one-point lead and the ball, but with 10 seconds left Ziegler stole the ball. Chloe Welch was fouled going to the basket as 2.2 seconds showed on the clock. She made one of two. Temple had one more chance but a Nelson shot rimmed around and out. Five more minutes to play.
In overtime Ziegler made 4 free throws. Ziegler added 3 along with one more by Talya Brugler.
A thriller that goes back to the start.
“We started off really hot,” said Griffin. “We had to sustain some runs, continual runs by Temple. I thought our players did a really good job of staying composed, confident, and battling. I like the way our team stayed together through some adversity.”
“It was a disappointing loss,” said Temple Coach Diane Richardson. “We showed we had fight, but again we start our games slow in the beginning and then we have to fight. And we won every quarter fighting back. Then in overtime free throws killed us.”
“We have to have that mentality where we have to jump out first and I think we are in chill mode and chill first quarter. That ahs been our Achilles heel this season.”
In addition to Ziegler freshman Gabby Casey scored 15 points on 6 of 7 shooting and 2 for 2 from distance.
“She was terrific,” Griffin said about the contribution of Casey. “She was playing like a senior, confident, assertive. She is a fantastic offensive player. She is fearless. She’s a competitor and some of that stuff you can teach, but some of this stuff, she has it in her soul.
Brugler contributed 10 points.
Temple had 12 points and 10 rebounds, a season-best, from forward Rayne Tucker. The Owls won the rebound battle 48 – 36, and had more assists 14 – 10. But Saint Joseph’s had an 18 – 8 edge from the free throw line.
In the Big Five Saint Joseph’s has wins over Penn, Drexel, and Temple. Ziegler, from Denmark, has played a big role in the wins, and has learned how special these games can be.
“We have a lot of internationals, so it’s all new to us,” Ziegler said about this city’s competition. ” We had Katie Jekot telling us and Kaylie (Griffin) is from the area. Big Five games just mean a little more. The preparation is more intense. We all know what’s at stake this year. Big Five games mean a lot to us.”
Temple needed a bounce back effort after the Villanova loss. They got it, on Philly Night celebrating Philadelphia basketball, and in a tough Big Five.
“I’m learning Big Five games are really important in this city,” Richardson said. “And it was important for us to bounce back from the Villanova game and understanding the importance of Big Five games. There are great basketball players in the area and we saw that tonight, saw it on both sides. We saw it Sunday at Villanova. There is a lot of basketball being played in Philly. But I also know there’s bragging rights as well.”
Written By: Glenn Papazian
Contact: Glenn@PhillyCollegeSports.com
Be the first to comment