Dragons Comeback Comes Up Just Short as Temple Edges Drexel, 66-64

Tuesday, November 14

Philadelphia, Pa.

7 p.m.

Drexel University

1-2,0-0CAA

Temple

3-0,0-0AAC

Temple

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Dragons Comeback Comes Up Just Short as Temple Edges Drexel, 66-64

11/14/2023 10:39:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - Drexel rallied from an eight-point deficit with one minute to play and came up just short as Temple escaped the Daskalakis Athletic Center with a 66-64 win. The Dragons missed a free throw intentionally with four seconds to play and Amari Williams grabbed the rebound, but his put back wouldn't fall as the Dragons lost a heartbreaker in front of a capacity crowd. It was the first time Temple had played at the DAC since 1985.

Temple's Hysier Miller made a pair of free throws with just 59 seconds to play to give the Owls a 61-53 lead. Drexel started the comeback when Justin Moore sank a 3-pointer at the 43 second mark to cut it to five. The Dragons were forced to foul on the remaining possessions as they were unable to come up with a steal. Temple made three of their next four free throws, but Moore scored on Drexel's two possessions, the second one resulting in a three-point play opportunity. Moore converted to make it 64-61 with 19 seconds to play. On the ensuring Owls' possession, Miller turned the ball over and after the inbounds pass, Lamar Oden, Jr. scored on a lay-up to cut it to a one-point game. Miller was fouled just one second later with just six ticks left on the clock to make it a three-point game. Temple called timeout and fouled Moore as soon as the Dragons go the ball in play. Moore made the first free throw, cutting the deficit to two. He missed the second on purpose and Williams slid around the box out to grab the board. He went up with his left hand just in front of the rim, but the ball bounced out and the Owls remained unbeaten in three games.

Drexel's first Big 5 home game ever got off to a quick start as the Dragons led 10-3 early. Temple answered with a 16-3 run to take the lead as the Dragons went cold from the field. The Owls' lead swelled to as many as 14 before the Dragons closed the half with a run of their own. Drexel's defense held Temple without a field goals for the final 3:43 of the half and closed the opening 20 minutes with a 7-0 run. Luke House had five of those points and scored 13 of his game-high 20 points in the first half.

In the second half, the Dragons kept chipping away but were unable to take the lead as the Owls countered every Drexel run. Temple was able to increase its lead to 10 at 57-47 with 5:50 to play and held the Dragons off the rest of the way.

House was 4-for-6 from the floor and also grabbed six rebounds. It was the second 20-point performance of his career. Moore added 18 points, 13 of those in the second half. Williams had nine rebounds and three blocks but was just 2-for-8 from the floor and finished with eight points.

The Dragons held Temple to just 31 percent shooting from the floor and the Owls were just 8-for-26 from behind the arc. However, Temple committed just five turnovers on the night and turned Drexel's 13 turnovers into 15 points. The Owls were also 22 of 26 from the line. Drexel shot 45 percent in the second half but it wasn't enough to overcome an 8-for-27 performance in the first half. Miller led the way for the Owls with 19 points. Matteo Picarelli was also in double figures with 11 points.

Drexel is now 1-2 overall and 0-2 in their Big 5 pod. The Dragons will host the Market Street Challenge this weekend. Drexel plays Fairfield on Friday and Queens (N.C.) on Sunday. Those two teams will meet on Saturday in the DAC.