On the back of a 3-1 start to the season, Temple welcomed Ole Miss and Head Coach Chris Beard to the Liacouras Center Wednesday afternoon for a tightly contested 77-76 loss that came down to the final minute of regulation.
With Auburn transfer Allen Flanigan notching a pair of free throws in the closing seconds to take the lead, Temple freshman Quante Barry missed a potential game-winning three to send the Rebels home victorious.
In spite of the defeat, Temple’s transfer class performed well to keep the Owls close into the second half.
“We’re going to compete,” said first-year Temple head coach Adam Fisher post-game. “If we play the right way, we’re going to live with the results and tonight I was proud of our guys and thought we competed.”
UMBC transfer Matteo Picarelli contributed 14 points, shooting 4-for-7 from three-point range while former Houston Christian forward Sam Hofman added a season-high 11 points and a pair clutch threes to keep the Owls close toward the end.
However, with Howard transfer Steve Settle III and Jahlil White both sidelined from injuries, Georgetown transfer Jordan Riley picked up his first start of the season under Fisher.
With a season-high 10 points, seven rebounds, and two steals from the Long Island, NY native, Fisher thought Riley offered a lot in what was a competitive loss for the Owls.
“Jordan was great, 10 points and seven rebounds he really went to the offensive glass,” said Fisher. “His energy and intensity on the defensive end was good, got a couple of steals, so we’re really happy with the way he played.”
Fisher added that on this Temple team, you have to earn the opportunity to start through hard work in practice and he’s seen development in Riley’s game.
“You’ve got to show me in practice that you can do it, you can’t just show up in a game and think the switch gets turned on,” said Fisher. “[Riley’s] really been working on his game, he’s a great young man and I was happy to see him come in, start, and compete the way he did.”
With Fisher declining to provide a timeline on Settle and White’s recoveries, Riley should continue seeing starter’s minutes as the Owls face La Salle next week just before the Big 5 Classic kicks off on Dec. 2.
