For the first time this season, it's been the Quakers' defense that has carried them to a halftime lead.
In Penn's final non-conference game of the season, the Red and Blue (7-7, 1-2 Big 5) lead Temple (10-8, 2-0 Big 5) 25-16 at the half. Both teams got off to slow starts, but the Owls were especially cold to begin the game. Temple missed its first 12 shots before finally getting on the board, but by that time the Quakers had built up a 14-point lead despite some shooting struggles of their own.
To Penn’s credit, most of Temple’s early shot attempts were contested, as the Owls were unable to move the ball effectively or penetrate inside. The Quakers also forced five turnovers as well as blocked three shots in the early going.
Even with the suffocating defense, the Quakers didn’t commit a shooting foul until under four minutes remained in the first half. Penn also allowed zero threes in the first half, just the second time this season the Owls failed to hit a shot from behind the arc in the opening period this season.
Penn led by double digits throughout the majority of the first half, but Temple was able to cut their deficit to nine going into halftime.
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