University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
14-12,5-8AAC
Temple University
14-12,6-7AAC
MBB Tripped Up by Temple in Double Overtime
2/20/2020 10:43:00 PM | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – The UConn men's basketball team battled relentlessly in their American Athletic Conference matchup Thursday night. The Huskies battled for 60 minutes but were ultimately tripped up by Temple in double overtime, 93-89.
Christian Vital led four Huskies in double figures as he poured in a team-high 21 points to go along with six rebounds. Isiah Whaley notched a double-double in his first start of the season, scoring 18 points and grabbing 14 boards. Freshmen James Bouknight added 16 points and seven boards while Jalen Gaffney chipped in 12 points and nine assists to round out the quartet.
Vital started the contest scoring 12 of UConn's first 16 points, helping them jump out to an early lead. The Huskies increased their advantage to 10 and held a 25-15 lead with 8:29 to go in the half, but a Temple run to end the period gave the Owls a lead at the break, 36-33.
The start to the second half was a back-and-forth affair as neither team was able to keep the other at bay. The Owls held a five-point lead at the 8:10 mark, but five quick points from Bouknight leveled the score at 55-55.
Temple led 63-57 with just under four minutes in regulation. Resilient as the Huskies faced a late six-point deficit, UConn outscored the Owls 12-6 down the stretch and sent the game into overtime on Whaley's floater with five seconds remaining.
The home team led throughout the first overtime until Bouknight reclaimed a 78-77 lead for the Huskies after converting a three-point play the old-fashioned way. A pair of free throws from Gaffney put UConn ahead by three with 28 second remaining, but Monty Scott's three sent the contest into a second overtime.
Whaley continued his strong play, scoring the first two baskets for UConn to give the Huskies an 84-80 advantage early in the frame. Temple responded with a 7-0 surge to reclaim a three-point lead with 1:48 to go. The Huskies pulled within 91-89 after Vital drained his third triple of the night, but Temple sunk two at the charity stripe to hold on for the win.
