It was a closer finish than Temple would have liked, but the Owls opened their season with a 40-37 win over American University Friday night at the Liacouras Center.
Turning point
With a two-point lead with 13.6 seconds left and at the foul line, Will Cummings made his first free throw to give Temple a 40-37 lead. Though he missed his second free throw, American couldn’t hit the game-tying three on its last shot.
B.M.O.C.
In his first game since tearing his meniscus in his right knee, Daniel Dingle led the Owls in scoring, finishing with 11 points on 3 of 6 from the field and 2 of 4 from three. Dingle finished with four rebounds and one steal.
Mark Williams also scored in double digits for the Owls with 11 points. Cummings had seven points, six rebounds and six assists. Quenton DeCosey had just two points. DeCosey had four fouls and played only 16 minutes.
Inside the box score
• Temple dominated American on the boards, outrebounding the Eagles, 39-25. The Owls also crushed the Eagles, 17-3, on the offensive boards.
• The Owls began the game 3 for 4 from three-point range, and then went 0 for 9 before Dingle snapped the skid with a three-pointer with 11:11 left to play that put Temple up, 30-20. The Owls finished 5 for 19 from beyond the arc.
News
Injury update
Jaylen Bond, who is nursing a sprained ankle, dressed but didn’t play.
History
Friday night’s matchup was the first meeting between the Owls and Eagles since Feb. 26, 1982, when Temple defeated American, 67-62. Temple leads the all-time series 21-4.
Up next
Temple is back in action Monday night when it hosts Louisiana Tech at 7 p.m.