USF Bulls fall to Temple Owls, 73-55

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The USF Bulls extended their losing streak to five games after losing to the Temple Owls by a score of 73-55 on Saturday afternoon. Strong performances by Temple’s Shizz Alson Jr. and Quinton Rose gave the Owls a comfortable win.

The game in the first half did not resemble the final outcome. In that segment of the game, the teams played hard and close, going into halftime tied at 30 apiece. The biggest lead of the half by either team was when Temple got a five point lead with just under six minutes remaining. A minute later, they were tied at 21.

Temple started the second with a 7-0 scoring run to go up 37-30 with 18:19 on the clock. The Bulls were able to get within two points, 46-44, with 11:36 to go, but the Owls took off on a 24-5 run to lead by as many as 21 points with less than two minutes remaining in the game.

Rose (20) and Alston (19) accounted for 39 of the Owls’ 73 points. Josh Brown, the only other Temple player scoring in double digits, added a dozen points to the total.

USF was led by Isaiah Manderson, who scored 18 points in the loss. Manderson also snagged eight rebounds. David Collins and Payton Banks scored ten apiece.

After the game, USF head coach, Brian Gregory commented about the game during the postgame press conference.

“I felt going into today’s game that Temple was playing just about as well as anyone in our league,” he said. “So, very pleased with where we were at in the first half. I felt really good at halftime. Saw the continuation of how we’ve been playing, in terms of playing the game the right way, moving the ball, sharing the ball, defending. All the things we talk about, and are striving to get a little more consistent on. And unfortunately, we didn’t do any of that in the second half.”

Temple improves to 15-10 (7-6) with the win. There next challenge will be a visit to #22 Wichita State on Thursday.

The Bulls will head east to visit I4 neighbor, UCF, on Wednesday night. Tipoff is at 6 PM EST. ESPNews will broadcast the game to a national audience, where available.