Instant Replay: Temple 88, Rutgers 82

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Temple lost a 20-point lead against a Rutgers team that hadn’t won on the road this year before roaring back and ending its longest losing streak in 38 years, 88-82, in an American Athletic Conference basketball game at the Liacouras Center.

Rutgers, which trailed by 20 early in the second half, went on a 38-17 run to take a one-point lead at 75-74 on J.J. Moore’s third three-pointer in two minutes with 2:44 left.

But Will Cummings scored on consecutive drives to the hoop, and Temple hung on for its first win since 2013.

The win was Temple’s first ever in the AAC and first in any game since a 101-65 win over LIU-Brooklyn on Dec. 21.

Turning point
Temple was clinging to a two-point lead with a minute left when Dalton Pepper scored on a short drive through the paint. A moment later Cummings stole the ball, and Josh Brown made two free throws to give Temple a six-point lead.

From the line
Temple made 20 of 25 foul shots and was 8 for 8 in the game’s final 46 seconds.

What it means
Temple ended an eight-game losing streak, the program’s longest since the 1975-76 season. Temple had lost its first seven games in the AAC.

Rutgers fell to 8-13 and 2-6 in the conference. The Scarlet Knights have lost four straight and six of their last seven. Rutgers is 0-6 on the road and 1-12 in its last 13 road games going back to last January.

By the numbers
The losing streak was Temple’s longest since an 11-game losing streak from Dec. 10, 1975, through Jan. 24, 1976. The Owls ended that streak with an 89-55 win over Dickinson at McGonigle Hall. … Pepper scored 14 of his 20 points in the final 8½ minutes of the first half. … Cummings scored 21 points to go with a career-high eight assists and a season-high four steals. Quenton DeCosey and Anthony Lee scored 15 points each for the Owls. … Kadeem Jack led Rutgers with 18 points and eight rebounds, and Junior Etou added 14 points.

What's next?
Temple seeks its first two-game winning streak since late November and early December when it faces No. 9 Villanova here at 4 p.m. Its next AAC game is scheduled for Feb. 6 vs. SMU in Dallas.

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