Derrian Ford's impressive performance propelled Temple to a 70-64 win over Texas at San Antonio at the UTSA Convocation Center. Ford, the Owls' top performer, scored 21 points and grabbed 8 rebounds, leading his team to a hard-fought victory. The win marked a successful prediction by CHD Scout, which had Temple winning by 12.6 points, although the actual margin was slightly narrower at 6 points.
The game was closely contested, with UTSA taking a 33-31 lead into halftime. Baboucarr Njie, the Roadrunners' top performer, was unstoppable in the first half, scoring 15 of his 25 points and pulling down 5 of his 10 rebounds. However, Temple adjusted their defense in the second half, limiting Njie's opportunities and forcing other UTSA players to step up. Jordan Mason and Aiden Tobiason provided key support for Ford, scoring 18 and 15 points, respectively, to help the Owls pull away in the second half.
UTSA's Jamir Simpson and Austin Nunez chipped in with 14 and 13 points, respectively, but it wasn't enough to overcome Temple's balanced attack. The Owls outscored the Roadrunners 39-31 in the second half, with Ford scoring 12 of his 21 points in the final 20 minutes. Temple's ability to shut down UTSA's offense in the second half was crucial, as they held the Roadrunners to just 31 points after halftime.
CHD Scout Report Card
CORRECTPredicted
Final
The win was a reflection of Temple's resilience and ability to adapt to different opponents. Despite being predicted to win by a larger margin, the Owls showed they could grind out a tough victory on the road. CHD Scout's prediction was correct, but the margin was closer than expected, highlighting the competitive nature of the game.
This result has real consequences for both teams' tournament chances. For Temple, the win is a Quadrant 4 victory, which, although not particularly impressive, still counts as a win. The Owls' current net ranking of 150 suggests they still have work to do to secure a tournament spot, but this win helps to bolster their resume. On the other hand, UTSA's loss is a Quadrant 3 defeat, which is a missed opportunity for the Roadrunners to pick up a quality win. With a current net ranking of 350, UTSA's tournament hopes are all but extinguished.
As the season progresses, Temple want to build on this win and continue to improve their tournament chances. With a strong performance from Ford and a balanced attack, the Owls have shown they can compete with a variety of opponents. This win may not have been a dominant performance, but it was a crucial one, and Temple want to use it as momentum heading into their next game.