Chronicowls '15 - Temple-Cincinnati

Posted by Chronicowls Contributor Phil "Tall" Wagner


Well you North Broad hoopheads, your Temple Owls  drew even last night, knotting things on the season  vs. the team with three more n’s and i’s each, those upstart Bearcats from Cincinnati. For the now 18-7, 9-3 and 11-2-at-home Owls, a critical win at a moment they critically needed one if to go dancing in weeks to come; for the now 17-7, 8-4 and 3-5-on-the-road Ohio visitors, vice versa.

Your Owls, with 6 games left including an East Carolina pair, are 6-0 since their 3-game swoon. Those Bearcats play 7 more, including a Tulane twofer.   

But this time, Dunphy in his 9^th season showed Cronin in his 8^th that dismantling his Owls by 31 in January, without his star Cummings on the court, don’t mean squat on this February Tuesday when #2 never sat. And he made his mark just .30 in en route to 21 pts., 5 assists, 4 steals

The line was 2. The score was 15-5 early. The 36-25 halftime tally was articulate. The final gap was a robust 16. The 75 Temple points may’ve been one shy of tacos, but they were 20.4 over the points per game previously allowed by the AAC scoring defense leader (and 6^th nationally). The lead was established with Cummings’ opening layup, built at will, managed carefully, never threatened throughout a thoroughly businesslike evening.

These Owls came to play, inspired as we all were by a national anthem rendition from a young troupe of both genders who carpe’d the diem and the hearts on the Liacouras floor. And, naturally, by the 10 tubas (never enough) and the Diamond Gems (never enough). Morgan (4x3=12), Bond, Watson, DeCosey and Brown were all big. Turnovers were big, 17 for Cincy, and small, only 8 for the homesters; steals 6 for the visitors, 10 for the Cherry and White as they beat on the Red and Black.

The hope, nope, the presumption, is that, come March Madness, last night’s game will loom large in the collective memory. And in the Owls early spring agenda. Play on.