Today, Cincinnati Bearcats traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to play the Temple Owls for their first AAC road game on New Year’s Day. Would Cincinnati be able to push their winning streak to five?
Early in the game Cincinnati played solid going back and forth with Temple, but foul trouble to big man Viktor Lakhin put the road team at a disadvantage as in the first half he had three fouls. Being down 37-29 in the first half in a place it is hard to find energy was rough for the Bearcats.
In the second half Cincinnati made runs, but overall the hot shooting from three from Temple was too much for them to overcome. Temple had five people in double digits led by Khalif Battle and Jahlil White (also had 16 rebounds) with 14 each. Temple kilt Cincinnati on the boards 46 to 28, they also shot great from the foul line going 14-of-15 and Cincinnati went 8-of-15.
Cincinnati had four players in double digits led by Landers Nolley with 15, but what hurt them the most is they only got two points off the bench today and on the road you can’t have that.
Temple won 70-61, breaking Cincinnati’s four game winning streak. Cincinnati protected the ball only committing seven turnovers, but shooting 38.3% from the field on the road isn’t ideal. Now 10-5 and 1-1 in the AAC, they play on the road at Wichita State on the road Thursday at 9 pm.
