Temple flops at finish in loss to Central Florida

For the second straight game, Temple lost a nail-biter at home after owning a double-digit lead in the second half.

Even though it placed four players in double figures, led by Obi Enechionyia with 17 points, the Owls lost to Central Florida, 71-69, Wednesday at the Liacouras Center.

Temple is 14-15, 5-11 in the American Athletic Conference, and has lost three in a row, including a 64-63 defeat Sunday to visiting UConn.

The Owls led UCF by as many as 11 points early in the second half. Against UConn, the Owls led by 56-46 with 8 minutes, 29 seconds left.

Enechionyia gave Temple a 69-68 lead with 1:27 left on a three-point shot over 7-foot-6 center Tacko Fall.

Knights guard B.J. Taylor hit a fallaway jumper with 55 seconds left, among several key shots he made in the second half, to give UCF a 70-69 lead.

Enechionyia missed a jumper with 35 seconds left. At that point Temple had just two team fouls and had to keep fouling the Knights to get into the penalty. Finally, Fall was fouled with 20.2 seconds left and was sent to the line for a one-and-one.

He missed the front end and teammate A.J. Davis appeared to be in position to get the rebound, but the ball went out of bounds and it was Temple possession with 18.3 seconds left.

Temple's Mark Williams missed a three-pointer and Enechionyia kept the ball alive but couldn't grab the rebound.

"I thought I had it," Enechionyia said of the rebound. "I went hard to the glass just in case it came off and I should have got it but I didn't."

Taylor did grab the rebound and was fouled. He made the first of two free throws. Enechionyia got the rebound of the second, dribbled to near halfcourt, and was way off on a desperation final shot.

Enechionyia's 17-point effort, all the points coming in the second half, was his highest-scoring game this month.

UCF (18-10, 9-7) was led by Taylor, who scored 16 of his 19 points in the second half.

Fall was a towering presence as well.

He had 14 points, 10 rebounds, five blocked shots, and two assists to go along with five turnovers (none in the second half). His presence was shown by one statistic - Temple attempted just one free throw the entire game, while UCF was 10 for 14.

"It is tough not being able to really play inside, said the 6-10 Enechionyia, who looked small standing next to Fall. "He doesn't have to jump to block shots."

Temple's Shizz Alston caught an elbow from UCF's Matt Williams as the Knights guard was attempting to shoot. The two had to be separated with the Owls leading by 44-41 and 13:47 left. No foul was called on the play.

Later in the half, Alston made a steal and was fouled in the open court by Williams, and the Temple sophomore had to be restrained again from going after him. The crowd booed Williams every time he touched the ball.

"It's just two guys being competitive," said Alston who had 15 points, three assists, and one turnover.

Temple led by 33-24 at the half, which was slightly better than the last time these two teams met. In that game on New Year's Eve at Central Florida, the Owls trailed by 38-11 at intermission during a 77-53 loss.

"This was no resemblance to the first game," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said.

With the exception of the outcome.

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard