The Temple Owls secured a 7th place finish at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii with a thrilling 55-54 victory over the Portland Pilots. The Owls were led by Quinton Rose, who scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Rose was the only Owl to score in double figures as the team shot just 33.3 percent from the field.
The game was a back-and-forth affair throughout, with neither team leading by more than six points. Portland took a 54-53 lead with just over a minute remaining, but Rose responded with a layup to put Temple ahead for good. The Owls then held on for the victory as Portland missed a potential game-winning shot at the buzzer.
The win was a much-needed one for Temple, who had lost their previous two games in the tournament. The Owls had struggled offensively throughout the tournament, shooting just 37.1 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from three-point range. However, they were able to make enough plays down the stretch to secure the win and the 7th place finish.
Rose was the star of the show for Temple, as he was able to make plays on both ends of the court. He also had four assists and three steals in the victory. His performance earned him a spot on the All-Tournament Team, as he averaged 16.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over the three games.
The victory was a great way for Temple to end their stay in Hawaii, and it will give them some momentum heading into their next game against La Salle on January 2nd. The Owls will look to build on this win and continue their strong start to the season.
