Jalen Brunson Leads Villanova Wildcats Past Temple Owls

Jalen Brunson’s father, Rick Brunson, was a star basketball player during his time with the Owls at Temple University in the ’90s, yet he chose to play college basketball with the Villanova Wildcats instead.

Jalen Brunson Leads Villanova Wildcats Past Temple Owls

Brunson was heavily booed by the crowd at Temple’s Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on Wednesday night, yet the freshman managed to score a career-high 25 points to lead the Wildcats to a 83-67 victory over the Owls. Brunson also shot 9 of 11 from the field, and made four of five three-pointers. The game marked the Wildcats’ 14th straight Big Five win, as well as their third straight City Series title. The Owls, however, saw their five-game winning streak abruptly cut short.

Despite the boos that the Owls fans hurled at Villanova’s star freshman guard, Brunson’s face remained expressionless the entire game.

“It felt great to quiet the crowd,” Brunson said. “But at the same time, I was playing for my teammates and not the crowd. They were excited for me and I just had to try to keep making the right plays at the right time.

Brunson scored a reverse layup in a 7-0 run at the beginning of the second half to extend a 12-point halftime lead to 19. Freshman Trey Lowe scored a career-high 21 points for the Owls, including a three-pointer with 3:19 left to play.

Daniel Ochefu also got 16 points and nine rebounds for the Owls, including six points in an 8-0 run that iced the game. Obi Enechioniya also got 15 points and nine rebounds.

The Wildcats are now 23-3, while the Owls are 16-9.

Caption: PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 17: Josh Brown #1 of the Temple Owls drives to the basket as Jalen Brunson #1 of the Villanova Wildcats defends during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game on February 17, 2016 at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Villanova defeated Temple 83-67. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images)