The Bearcats would jump out to a 47-41 lead with 16 minutes remaining after Landers Nolley turned it up to start the second half as he had a quick six points, after being held to just 1-of-5 from the field in the first half. The Bearcats would push their lead after Adams-Woods attacked and found Lakhin for a huge and-1 to make this a 50-43 game. The Bearcats would look to keep their foot on the gas and not let history repeat itself after blowing a seven-point lead in the team’s first match up in Philadelphia.
The Owls would respond though with a huge 6 point run as they made this a three-point game, before Hysier Miller picked up a technical foul that would spark a 6 point Bearcats run. A run that sparked some momentum after Skillings picked the pocket of Dunn and would throw it down on the other end to give the Bearcats a 59-52 lead. The Owls would come back though after a run of their own, as they would tie this one at 65 following a Damion Dunn three, off an Adams-Woods turnover.
The Bearcats have been in this situation before with Temple earlier in the season, how they respond here tonight is crucial for the rest of the season. Time after time this season, it has been DeJulius stepping up for the Bearcats after an acrobatic shot late in the shot clock falls and makes this a 71-65 game with 5:04 remaining. However, the Bearcats would hold Temple without a field goal for nearly five minutes as they lead 71-67 with just over three minutes remaining.
The Owls would come back and tie it up at 75 despite making one field goal in the last eight minutes of the half following a Zach Hicks made three. The Bearcats would look to set up one final play as Wes Miller calls timeout with 19.6 seconds left. Landers Nolley would call his own number as he took the final shot in regulation, as his three-point shot is just off the mark as the Bearcats head to overtime after Temple ends the second half on a 7-0 run. The Bearcats would have to do this without Viktor Lakhin who fouled out in regulation.
Landers Nolley would score the first six points for the Bearcats in overtime as they exchanged blow for blow with the Owls in the opening three minutes. Nolley, was 3-of-12 from the field before overtime, and then turned it on when the Bearcats needed it the most. The Bearcats were looking to make this an 83-79 game following a Damian Dunn foul on the run out. The Owls would look to close the deficit, but missed two crucial free throws in the final minute that would seal the deal for the Bearcats.
The Bearcats would defeat the Owls and improve to (19-10, 10-6 AAC) on the season, after a hard fought victory here tonight at Fifth Third Arena. Landers Nolley finished with 20 points as he put the team on his back in overtime trading shot for shot with Damion Dunn, who finished with a a game high 34 points on 9-of-21 shooting. The Bearcats finish strong as they saw five players score in double-digits, along with Nolley, David DeJulius finished with 20 points and seven assists, while Dan Skillings had arguably his best game as a Bearcat, as he had 15 points on (6-of-8 FG). Overall, a must win game for the Bearcats and they did that, as they limited the Owls on the glass, something that the Owls dominated in the first matchup 46-28, this time the Bearcats get the edge 36-29. Something they knew they had to do, to get the win tonight, as they now sit all alone in fourth place in the AAC standings.
From Wes Miller
“To put it into perspective, we were in the exact same situation against Tulane a couple of weeks ago. I thought we handled it completely differently tonight. I loved how our guys responded in overtime. We had the mentality tonight to find absolute any way we could to win the game, was it pretty down the stretch, no. The will, mentality to win, is what you are pleased with as a coach, and that is what is way more important than the X’s, and O’s. That is the part I am pleased with, that is the fourth time I have played Temple since I have been here as head coach, and they all have been battles. I could go down the line and give everyone credit, I am really proud of our guys tonight.”
The Bearcats (19-10, 10-6 AAC) will be back in action this Sunday at 2 pm ET when they travel to Memphis, and take on the Memphis Tigers (20-7, 10-4 AAC). Bearcats forward Landers Nolley will make his highly anticipated return to Fedex Forum, after spending the last two seasons with the Tigers.
