Men's Basketball Suffers Second-Straight Close Loss, 71-69 to UCF

Wednesday, February 22

Liacouras Center

7:00 p.m.

Temple University

14-15, 5-11

UCF

18-10, 9-7

UCF

Temple

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Men's Basketball Suffers Second-Straight Close Loss, 71-69 to UCF

2.22.17 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Box Score (PDF)Players Press Conference Fran Dunphy Press Conference

PHILADELPHIA - In a final three minutes that saw five lead changes, it was UCF to come out on top and hand Temple men's basketball a 71-69 loss at the Liacouras Center on Wednesday night. Lack of foul trouble ended up hurting the Owls (14-15, 5-11) in the end, as they were forced to use up time while committing five fouls in the final minute to finally send the Knights (18-10, 9-7) to the free throw line.

Down 70-69 with 55 seconds left, the Owls had recorded only two fouls in the half to that point. With 20 seconds left, Temple was finally whistled for foul number seven, sending UCF's Tacko Fall to the line where he missed the front end of a 1-and-1. UCF pulled down the rebound but the Owls quickly forced a turnover.

After a Temple timeout with 13.4 seconds remaining, the Owls got an open long range look for Mark Williams, but his attempt missed the mark. B.J. Taylor hit just one of two free throws for UCF at the other end, but Temple's desperation shot by Obi Enechionyia from beyond half court didn't fall as time expired.

Enechionyia led four Owls in double figures, scoring 17 points including five three-pointers. Shizz Alston, Jr. added 15 points, while both Quinton Rose and Williams finished with 11.

Taylor scored a game-high 19 points for UCF, one of five Knights to record double digits. Fall and Nick Banyard both notched double-doubles for UCF, with Fall adding five blocks to his 14 points and 10 boards.

Despite it being a physical game with a couple of altercations between the teams, foul calls were limited on both ends. UCF committed just six in the entire contest, sending Temple to the line for just a single free throw attempt that was converted by Quinton Rose.

UCF held a lead for most of the first 12 minutes, but never by more than five points. The Owls picked up momentum near the eight-minute mark of the opening half, and used a 14-1 run capped by a Daniel Dingle three-pointer to take a 28-20 lead at 2:50.

After the Knights twice cut the margin to six, Williams knocked down a trey with 51 seconds left for the Owls' largest lead of nine, 33-24, and that score still stood at the break.

Temple committed just three first-half turnovers but took advantage of eight miscues by UCF, recording a 10-4 lead in points off turnovers for the period. The Owls held the Knights to just nine field goals and 32 percent shooting, while hitting 47 percent of their own attempts from the floor.

Enechionyia, scoreless in the first half, made it look easy in the second. He hit back-to-back three-pointers to give the Owls an 11-point, 39-28 lead at 17:32, but UCF erased it in a hurry.

Over the next two minutes, Matt Williams scored eight points including two treys in an 11-0 run for UCF that tied the game at 39-39. After another tie at 46-all, the Owls went on a 7-0 run as emotions ran high between the teams. Rose capped the run with a three-point play for a 53-46 lead at the midway point of the second half.

The Knights got it back to a one-possession game with 8:45 left, and the game was tied for a sixth time at 61-61 with 4:40 remaining. One more tie followed at 63-63 before the lead changed hands five times in a thrilling final three minutes.

Both Alston and Enechionyia hit three-pointers to give Temple one-point leads, but UCF answered each time in eventually gaining its 70-69 lead with 55 seconds left.

The Owls will be back in action for their final home game and "Senior Day" on Saturday, Feb. 25 as they host Tulane at noon (ESPNU / 1210 AM WPHT).

Players Press Conference | Coach Dunphy Press Conference