Florida Atlantic's Josiah Parker stole the show at the Liacouras Center, leading his team to a 79-73 victory over Temple. Parker's impressive double-double, consisting of 22 points and 12 rebounds, was the difference-maker in a tightly contested matchup. The Owls' big man was a force to be reckoned with, dominating the paint and outmuscling the Temple frontcourt.
Aiden Tobiason did his best to keep the Owls at bay, scoring 23 points and grabbing five rebounds for the home team. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the balanced attack of Florida Atlantic, which saw three players score in double figures. Xander Pintelon and Devin Vanterpool chipped in with 12 points each, while Parker's supporting cast played a crucial role in securing the win.
The game got off to a slow start, with Temple taking a 34-30 lead into the halftime break. However, Florida Atlantic came out firing in the second half, outscoring the Owls 49-39 to take control of the game. The Owls' second-half surge was fueled by Parker's dominant play, as he scored 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the final 20 minutes.
CHD Scout Report Card
INCORRECTPredicted
Final
CHD Scout's pre-game prediction had Temple winning by a slim 1.8-point margin, but the actual outcome was far more one-sided. The Owls' six-point victory was a reflection of their strength and depth, as they outrebounded Temple 43-36 and shot 45% from the field.
The win is a significant one for Florida Atlantic, as it boosts their resume and improves their chances of making a deep postseason run. This game was classified as a Quadrant 3 matchup for both teams, but the Owls' victory will undoubtedly look good on their tournament resume. With a current NET ranking of 87, Florida Atlantic is well-positioned to make a push for the NCAA Tournament.
For Temple, the loss is a setback, but not a devastating one. The Owls' NET ranking of 157 still leaves them with work to do if they hope to sneak into the tournament field. However, with games like this one, they can take solace in the fact that they're competing with quality opponents and pushing them to their limits. As the season wears on, Temple must regroup and refocus if they hope to make a late-season surge and improve their tournament chances. The loss to Florida Atlantic serves as a reminder that there's still much work to be done for the Owls.