Temple’s matchup with Richmond at the Palestra saw two Philly basketball journeys come full circle

In February, Derrick Morton-Rivera celebrated his consecutive Catholic League championship with Father Judge at the Palestra.

On Sunday, the freshman guard returned to the same court wearing a Temple uniform. But instead of celebrating a victory, Morton-Rivera stepped to the free-throw line in the final minutes and scored the first two points of his college career.

His debut was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing return to the historic arena for Temple, which suffered a 79-53 loss to Richmond during the Palestra’s 100th year celebration.

The 1-1 Owls played at the building for the first time since 2022 and returned to an arena they once called home from 1955 to 1984. Temple entered Sunday with a 280-143 record at the Palestra, a venue closely tied to the program’s history and Philadelphia’s college basketball tradition.

» READ MORE: Penn State and Pitt’s renewed rivalry brought Jalil Bethea back to his hometown

Sunday offered an opportunity to reconnect with that history. Instead, the Owls spent most of the evening trying to overcome an early deficit.

Richmond (3-0) scored the game’s first 14 points, forcing Temple coach Adam Fisher to call an early timeout. The Owls didn’t score until Jordan Marsh made a free throw nearly six minutes into the first half.

Temple trailed 37-23 at halftime before Richmond extended its lead to as many as 31 points in the second half. As the deficit continued to grow, audible boos emerged from the announced crowd of 3,600, a stark contrast to the celebratory atmosphere the occasion was intended to create.

“The game [was], obviously, ugly,” Fisher said. “Didn’t come out with the intensity, didn’t start the right way, and then showed little spurts through the game of playing the right way. But we’ve got to be much better. It starts with me.”

The Owls committed 16 turnovers and shot 29.6% from the field, including 7-for-32 in. three-pointers. Richmond, meanwhile, shot 50.8% and recorded 22 assists on 30 made baskets.

“They’re a heavy gap team,” Fisher said. “We talked about spacing for five straight days, showed film today of spacing. They’re going to switch. We had to do a much better job moving the ball. It got stagnant.”

For Richmond coach Chris Mooney, the opportunity to return to the Palestra carried personal significance.

Mooney, a Philadelphia native who played at Princeton from 1990 to 1994, recalled competing at the Palestra against Penn and experiencing the atmosphere of the historic Penn vs. Princeton rivalry.

“This is the best venue there is, and it’s my first time coaching here, so I’m thrilled to be back,” Mooney said.

Mooney said he discussed the significance of the arena with his players before Sunday’s game, although he recognized that not everyone approaches the experience with the same appreciation.

» READ MORE: St. Joseph’s women’s hoops roster hasn’t changed much. Here’s how it looked in the season opener against Kutztown

“Some guys are really into nostalgia and history,” Mooney said. “Some guys just want to play the game, and that’s another gym, which I respect.”

Mooney also expressed appreciation for the Palestra’s centennial celebration and the opportunity for programs to participate in games at the historic building.

“I hope they continue to do more because it’s such a great place to play,” Mooney said.

While Richmond’s players left with a victory, Morton-Rivera experienced a different kind of homecoming.

The Philadelphia native made his collegiate debut, playing 13 minutes and finishing with two points, two rebounds, and a steal.

His first college points came after he forced a turnover late in the second half and drew a foul while attempting to finish in transition. Morton-Rivera converted both free throws, adding another milestone to his history inside the building.

“I thought [Morton-]Rivera played really hard,” Fisher said. “I don’t care he was 0-for-3 [from the field]. He went to the glass; he competed. He gave great effort, energy. If you want to get on the floor on our team, that’s what it’s got to be.”

The moment offered a reminder of the Palestra’s ability to connect different generations and levels of basketball, even on an evening when Temple struggled to produce much worth celebrating.

The Owls will have another opportunity to play at the Palestra on Dec. 12 against St. Bonaventure, their second appearance as part of the centennial celebration.

Before then, they must address the shortcomings exposed Sunday, beginning with Wednesday’s home game against Charleston at the Liacouras Center.