(PHOTOS BY ZACK BEAVERS, VIDEO/JOSH ABRAMS)
BY JOSH ABRAMS (@jabrams1998)
PHILA.-- In recent years, the regular season meeting between Temple and Saint Joseph’s didn’t have much significance beyond it being a Big-5 matchup. Both teams would typically be vying for the second-place spot behind normally-first-place Villanova.
Well, have the times changed or what? By holding off a pesky Hawks squad at home by a score of 70-60, the Owls moved one step closer to winning the Big-5 title outright.
They have gotten the best of Villanova, La Salle and now St. Joe’s to move to 3-0 against their city opponents. It’s a trio of matchups that have been a pleasure for Temple head coach Aaron McKie and company to enjoy, not just because of ultimately ending up with at least a share of this year’s title.
“A lot of these guys spend the entire summer playing against each other,” said McKie. “They rotate gyms, and they talk about it a lot. You’re always fighting for bragging rights and it’s the same thing when I was playing. It’s fun; it’s good banter and you kinda needle guys about it.”
Even in defeat, Hawks head coach and local native Billy Lange was praiseful of the tradition as well as the team he competed against.
“The Big-5 is great,” said the fourth-year Hawks leader. “They’re physical battles. They’re intense games. This one was a grind for a very, very large portion (of the game). Credit Temple; they’re playing really well, they’ve played an aggressive, tough schedule. I feel like they’ve gotten better as the season has progressed.”
Continued Lange: “They’re going to be a very, very good team conference. They’re a really good team right now.”
As is such, Temple has now won their last four games, all of them by at least 10 or more points. A constant theme all season long, the Owls were led offensively by Khalif Battle’s 20 points, his fifth consecutive game with 20+ and sixth out of his last seven.
Hysier Miller and Zach Hicks chipped in with 10 points apiece, while Hicks recorded a double-double and added 10 rebounds.
Temple vs. SJU - PSD Highlights by Josh Abrams
Post Game Press Conference with Temple Head Coach Aaron McKie - Video by Josh Abrams
Post Game Press conference with Temple guards Khalif Battle and Hysier Miller - PSD Video by Josh Abrams
A Philadelphia native and Roman Catholic alum himself, Miller happens to be one of the few local products on Temple’s roster, further enhancing his knowledge and understanding of the importance of winning a Big-5 game, let alone at least a share of the title.
“I think it’s a major accomplishment for us,” the sophomore guard said. “To put ourselves in a position to win the Big-5 championship, and to know how much it means for the area and for Temple, it’s a big thing for us.”
Even while riding this hot scoring streak, Battle knows first and foremost that his personal accolades must come anywhere but first if his team wants to remain successful.
“I’m not really worried about that, I’m just worried about winning,” said the fellow sophomore guard. “I’m happy we got the win. I know I can score but really, it’s more important that [looks at Miller] these guys get involved and I think we just have to do a better job (because) I don’t really think we played the best today.”
St. Joe’s led for a total of two minutes and 18 seconds the entire game, but a huge reason why they remained within striking distance was Cameron Brown. The senior guard scored a career-high 25 points, connecting on seven of eight field goal attempts and knocking down five threes. Like Hicks, he also recorded a double-double with 10 boards.
Temple led 4-3 at the first media timeout of the game. Miller drained a three with time ticking down in the first half to give the home team a rather huge three-point advantage, 29-26, heading into the locker rooms.
Temple vs. SJU - PSD Photos by Zack Beavers
The Owls held a 42-36 lead at the first media timeout of the second half; both teams showing they had found their groove offensively (13-10 compared to 4-3).
Said McKie of his thoughts on the first half and what he told his team: “We were relying on shotmaking too much… and I call teams like that ‘feel good’ teams because when the ball is going in the basket everyone is feeling good about themselves. But the really good teams still find that energy source that they need in order to defend (when the ball isn’t going in the basket).”
The Owls got their lead to as much as 14 deep into the second half before St. Joe’s forced a few turnovers and even got to within single digits. They eventually put the Hawks away for good and, despite all of the kinks and other issues, held on by double digits yet again.
St. Joe’s falls to 3-5 on the season and will stay in Hawk Hill for the rest of the year as all five of their next games are at home, the next against Saint Peter’s.
Post Game Press conference with SJU head coach Billy Lange - PSD Video by Josh Abrams
Ten days removed from beating La Salle at the Palestra, Temple will head back there to take on the Quakers in their final Big-5 game of the season. A win secures their first Big-5 title since the 2012-2013 season and first outright title since 2009-2010.