Days after losing its season opener to Wagner in overtime, Temple pulled out all the stops in an improbable victory over 16th-ranked Villanova Friday night, an accomplishment fans commemorated by storming the court not once but twice. In their haste to celebrate Temple’s first win over its crosstown rival since 2012 (snapping what had been a seven-game losing streak), fans apparently didn’t realize there was still time on the clock, prompting officials to clear the court so sophomore forward Zach Hicks could go to the free-throw line with 0.2 remaining. After Hicks sunk his free throws, students again rushed the court, experiencing the sights and sounds of an upset years in the making.
This was only the Owls’ second win over a ranked opponent under coach Aaron McKie (a Temple alum who would go on to star for his hometown Sixers from 1997-2005) after beating No. 16 Wichita State in 2020. The Owls’ backcourt tandem of Khalif Battle and Damian Dunn accounted for 43 of Temple’s 68 points, handing coach Kyle Neptune (tapped as Jay Wright’s successor this past spring) the first loss of his Wildcats tenure.
Fans at Liacouras Center got their money’s worth, attending a chaotic game that saw 14 lead changes, all in the second half. Temple won in spite of dismal 38.3-percent shooting (23-of-60 from the floor), taking advantage of 13 turnovers and 21 fouls by the visiting Wildcats. Temple’s tour de Philly will continue with upcoming games against Drexel (November 27th), La Salle (November 30th), St. Joseph’s (December 6th) and Penn (December 10th) before beginning its conference slate December 28th at East Carolina.
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