COLLEGE: Temple Tops No. 16 Wichita State in 'Adventurous' Showdown
PHILADELPHIA - “It was adventurous getting off the court,” Wichita State head coach Greg Marshall said after coaching his first game in Philadelphia against Temple.
Not only was getting off the court after the game hectic, but the action happening on the hardwood during play was adventurous as well. The game couldn’t be decided in regulation. The Owls and Shockers needed five more minutes to determine a winner.
With 24 seconds left in overtime and the game tied, Shizz Alston Jr. hit a spin move in the lane and shot a contested floater that missed for the Owls. Temple freshman Nate Pierre-Louis, however, swooped in and was able to grab an offensive rebound. With the shot clock now off and Temple able to hold the ball for the last shot in overtime, the home fans cheered in relief. But then the ball was launched from the left corner.
Sophomore guard Quinton Rose decided to attempt a 3-pointer despite Temple’s chance to hold the ball and shoot for the last shot. Fans screamed from the stands with their hands on their heads shouts of, “oh no,” and “what are you doing!” The shot clanked off the back of the rim but as players were fighting for the rebound, Wichita State guard Landry Shamet was called for an off-ball foul. Senior forward Obi Enechionyia was able to make both free throws to put Temple in the lead.
Temple Fans Storm the Court After Defeating No. 16 Wichita State
Though Wichita State junior forward Markis McDuffie got a clean look at a 3-pointer for the last shot, it wasn’t able to fall. Temple beat No.16 Wichita State 81-79 at the Liacouras Center on Thursday. Temple scored the final seven points in overtime to win the game.
In regulation, the Owls also had to go on a run to stay competitive and force an extra period. Temple trailed by as many as 10 points in the second half. A burst of energy off the bench from Pierre-Louis helped the Owls stay in the game.
Pierre-Louis scored four straight points with under 14 minutes left in the second half on a contested layup and a hard dunk in the lane that brought Temple within four points. He finished with 11 points and five rebounds in 31 minutes for the Owls.
With under three minutes in the second half and Temple down two points, Alston Jr. hit a pull-up jumpshot to tie the game. Then with seven seconds left in regulation and Temple again trailing by two points, Alston Jr. flipped up a layup to force overtime. Though he only made one shot in the first half, Alston Jr. said he knew he would keep shooting.
Temple vs. #16 Wichita State - Final Possessions
“I knew I wasn’t shooting it well from the outside and I felt like I couldn’t let my team down tonight,” Alston Jr. said. “Josh [Brown] kept me going and he said ‘keep shooting.’ I know I could get to the basket so I decided to do that.”
Alston Jr. usually shoots well from the perimeter and averaged a 39.8 percent 3-point shooting percentage prior to Thursday’s game. Against the Shockers, however, he went 0-for-6 from behind the arc. Despite the poor shooting from outside, Alston Jr. ended the game with 12 points.
Other than Alston Jr. and Pierre-Louis, Temple had three more players score in double figures. Rose led the way with 19 points while Josh Brown scored 15 for the Owls. Enechionyia was able to contribute 11 points in the upset victory over Wichita State. It was the first time since Temple beat Clemson in the Gildan Charleston Classic championship game on Nov. 19 earlier this season that the Owls had at least five players score in double-figures.
With the win over Wichita State, the Owls improve to 12-10 overall and 4-6 in the American Athletic Conference. Temple continues play in The American against Tulane on Sunday.
J.P. Moorman II Celebrates As Temple's Student Section Storms the Court - Photo by Zamani Feelings