PHILADELPHIA — Khalif Wyatt scored 24 points and Jake O’Brien recorded a double-double to lead Temple to a 76-70 win over Rhode Island on Saturday.
O’Brien finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Owls (21-8, 9-5 Atlantic 10 Conference), who won their fifth straight game. Will Cummings and Scootie Randall each had 15 points, and Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson pulled down 13 rebounds — seven offensive.
Temple had a 10-point advantage midway through the second half. But the Owls eventually saw their lead trimmed to one point after Rhode Island’s Andre Malone made two free throws with 2:20 left.
However, Temple held the Rams (8-19, 3-11) scoreless the rest of the game. O’Brien made two free throws, Wyatt knocked down two free throws and Cummings added another free throw to seal the victory for the Owls.
Xavier Munford led Rhode Island with 30 points. Malone had 18 points.
