Four in Double Figures Not Enough as Men’s Basketball Falls to Temple

Saturday, December 22

Palestra

1 p.m.

Drexel University

6-7

Temple

10-2

Temple

Drexel

Four in Double Figures Not Enough as Men’s Basketball Falls to Temple

12/22/2018 2:51:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – The Drexel men's basketball team (6-7) had four finish in double figures but it was not enough as the Dragons fell to the Temple Owls (10-2) on Saturday afternoon from the Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania by a final of 82-64. It was the final non-conference game of the season for the Dragons and their only visit to the historic arena this year.

The Owls held the lead for most of the first half, but the Dragons cut the lead to just three with 2:54 to play on a Tim Perry lay-in. Temple answered by closing the half on a 10-2 run, which was capped off by a long three-pointer just over half court by Nate Pierre-Louis that banked in as time expired. That gave Temple a 41-30 lead at intermission.

In the second half, the Dragons stayed close and tried to make a run. Cam Wynter nailed a three-pointer and after a Troy Harper lay-in, Drexel trailed by just six at 60-54. The Owls answered on the next possession when Shizz Alston stuck a corner three to extend their lead to nine. Drexel turned the ball over on the next two possessions as baskets by Alani Moore and Ernest Aflakpuie widened the lead to 13 points. The Dragons were unable to get within 10 points the rest of the way.

Alston led all players with 25 points. He made five three-pointers. Pierre-Louis added 22 points on an effective 9-for-11 shooting and grabbed nine rebounds. Quinton Rose scored 14, while Aflakpui had a double-double with 10 points and 10 caroms.

Harper scored 18 to lead the Dragons. He was 8-for-11 from the charity stripe. Wynter scored 12 points, but was forced into seven turnovers by the aggressive Temple defense. Drexel committed 17 turnovers on the afternoon. Alihan Demir had 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, while James Butler scored 10 and came within one rebound of a double-double.

Drexel returns to action on the road at Northeastern in Boston, Mass. on Friday, Dec. 28 to open conference play. The team will also play at Hofstra before heading back home for its home league-opener on Jan. 3.