Owls Soar Past Hornets: Temple's Resurgence on Display in Dominant Win

You know, some nights just click. And for the Temple Owls, Monday night at the Liacouras Center was one of those nights, a really good one. They rolled past the Delaware State Hornets with a convincing 83-65 victory, a performance that, honestly, felt like a statement. It pushed their record to a respectable 5-3, while the Hornets, well, they're still searching for rhythm at 1-8.

From the get-go, Temple looked sharp. They opened up with a blistering pace, establishing a solid lead, and, dare I say, seemed to be having fun doing it. The first half was particularly strong, seeing them build a comfortable 48-31 cushion as the teams headed into the locker rooms. A lead like that, you could say, gives a team a lot of breathing room, and it allowed them to play with a certain swagger.

Leading the charge for the Owls was Hysier Miller, who just couldn't miss, not really. He dropped a season-high 20 points, orchestrating the offense with five assists to boot. But he wasn't alone in his brilliance. Jahlil White was a force to be reckoned with, securing a fantastic double-double with 19 points and an impressive 10 rebounds. And then there was Steve Settle III, adding his own significant contribution of 18 points. This trio, working in concert, was truly something to behold; they were just relentless, pushing the tempo and finding ways to score.

Now, credit where credit is due: Delaware State didn't just roll over. Not entirely, anyway. They showed a flash of resilience in the second half, chipping away at Temple's lead, even managing to cut the deficit to a mere 10 points. For a moment, you might have thought, “Uh oh, is a comeback brewing?” But Temple, ever so calmly, answered that challenge. They responded with a decisive 13-4 run, quickly extinguishing any hopes of a Hornets' upset and reasserting their dominance. It was a mature response, really, showing a team that knows how to close.

Statistically speaking, the Owls were simply more efficient. They shot a crisp 51% from the field, connecting on 33 of 65 attempts. The Hornets, in contrast, struggled a bit, finishing at 37.5% (24-for-64). And, perhaps crucially, Temple dominated the glass, out-rebounding Delaware State 44-32. Those extra possessions, for sure, make a difference in the long run, giving a team more chances to score and control the game's flow.

Looking ahead, the Owls, feeling good after this win, are set to hit the road for a tough matchup at VCU this Saturday. It'll be interesting to see if they can carry this momentum forward. Meanwhile, Delaware State will also be traveling, facing Mount St. Mary's, hoping, I imagine, to find that elusive second win.