NEW YORK – Temple’s quest for its first major tournament title in 46 years came to an end at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday night.
Temple allowed a second-half lead to slip away in a 60-57 loss to Miami in an National Invitation Tournament semifinal game.
The Owls had a chance to tie the game at the buzzer but a Quenton DeCosey three-pointer clanged off the back of the rim.
Temple, which last won the NIT in 1969, finished the season with a 26-11 record.
Turning point
Temple took advantage of Miami seven-footer Tonye Jekiri going down with a concussion after a clash of heads with a TU player just 9:06 into the game. The Owls immediately ripped off an 11-3 run with many of those attempts coming in the paint vacated by the injured Jekiri to build a double-digit lead.
Miami, a bit shell-shocked after watching its anchor exit, slowly crept back into the game by speeding things up.
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The Hurricanes ditched their post-up offense for a more wide-open, perimeter-based attack. It certainly seemed to work, as the 'Canes were able to get plenty of transition baskets on the Owls.
Miami finally got over the hump when leading scorer Sheldon McClellan drilled back-to-back three-pointers 30 seconds apart to give the Hurricanes their first lead since midway through the first half.
Those critical threes were apart of a 15-6 run that gave Miami control and sent Hurricanes to their first ever NIT championship game.
Big men on campus
McClellan had a double-double to lead Miami with 16 points and 11 rebounds.
Ja’Quan Newton had nine points and four boards off the bench. Davon Reed scored six points, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists and blocked three shots.
Temple freshman Obi Enechionyia led all scorers with 17 points. He also added eight rebounds and five blocks.
Numbers game
• Temple’s starting backcourt of Will Cummings and Jesse Morgan combined for 18 points on 6 of 25 shooting.
• Despite losing Jekiri early in the game, Miami won the rebounding battle 45-41.
• Both teams shot poorly from three-point range. Temple was 2 of 19 (10.5 percent) from beyond the arc, while Miami was 6 of 21 (28.6 percent).
• Jaylen Bond exited during the second half with a right leg injury.
• Miami starting guard Angel Rodriguez missed his third straight game with a wrist injury.
History
This marked Temple’s 18th appearance in the National Invitation Tournament. The Owls won the very first NIT in 1938 and secured a second tournament title in 1969. Their NIT record now stands at 23-16.
Tuesday also signified just the fourth meeting all-time between Temple and Miami with the last matchup being a 73-56 Owls win at home on Nov. 27, 2005. The series is now tied at 2-2.
What’s next?
Miami advances to the NIT championship game to face Stanford. The NIT title game is set for 9 p.m. on Thursday at Madison Square Garden.
Temple’s season is over.