Missouri beats Temple to snap three-game skid
PHILADELPHIA » Javon Pickett scored 16 points and Missouri snapped a threegame losing streak, beating Temple 64-54 on Saturday night.
Dru Smith added 12 points and six rebounds for the visiting Tigers (54), who were coming off a stunning home loss to Charleston Southern.
Quinton Rose led the way for Temple (6-2) with
16 points, 10 of which came in the first half. The Owls committed a season-high
19 turnovers, including an overthrown pass in transition with a minute to go to dash any comeback hopes. They also shot 2 for 20 from
3-point range. Trailing by six early in the second half, the Owls reeled off the next 12 points to take their first lead since they were up 4-2. The run began with a Monty Scott
3-pointer and included a Jake Forrester dunk that electrified a previously frustrated Liacouras Center crowd.
Forrester, an Indiana transfer who had to sit out the first four games until getting cleared to play by the NCAA, finished with 11 points.
Pickett helped Missouri fight back to tie the game at 47-47 with eight minutes remaining, and the Tigers took the lead 53-52 on a Jeremiah Tillman transition dunk with four minutes to go. Mark Smith’s 3-pointer put the Tigers ahead 57-52 with 2:53 left, and Xavier Pinson helped close out the win with a driving layup in the final minute.
Temple had more turnovers (11) than made field goals (eight) in the first half to fall behind 33-27 at halftime. No one on the Owls besides Rose scored until Forrester hit a free throw more than eight minutes into the contest.
Despite Saturday’s setback, the Owls are showing promise under firstyear coach Aaron McKie, who replaced Fran Dunphy. Their only losses have come to power conference teams, No. 3 Maryland and now Missouri, while they’ve beaten another Southeastern Conference squad, Texas A&M, and also Southern California on the road.
La Salle uses offensive balance to sink Drexel
PHILADELPHIA » David Beatty had 14 points to lead five La Salle players in double figures as the Explorers defeated Drexel 71-63 on Saturday.
Saul Phiri added 12 points for the Explorers, Scott Spencer chipped in
11 with seven rebounds and Ayinde Hikim and Ed Croswell each scored 10
Isiah Deas, the Explorers’ second leading scorer heading into the contest at nine points per game, was just 1-of-9 shooting.
Zach Walton had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Dragons (5-5). James Butler added 17 points and
12 rebounds. Camren Wynter had 11 points and six rebounds.
La Salle (5-3) matches up against Morgan State at home next Saturday. Drexel takes on South Florida on the road next Sunday.