No. 21 Temple shoots it way past Rhode Island, 78-56

No. 21 Temple beats Rhode Island 78-56

PHILADELPHIA — Micheal Eric scored a career-high 19 points and No. 21 Temple set a school record for shooting in a 78-56 victory over Rhode Island on Saturday.

The Owls (20-5, 8-2 Atlantic 10) shot 68.6 percent from the field, including making their first eight shots of the second half, and had their highest scoring game of the season.

Eric, a 6-foot-11 sophomore forward from Nigeria, scored 17 points in the first half on 8-of-9 shooting. He finished 9 of 10 from the field was one of four Owls in double figures. Ryan Brooks added 18 points, while Lavoy Allen had 17 and Ramone Moore 12.

Delroy James and Akeem Richmond both had 11 points for Rhode Island (19-5, 7-4), which lost its second straight.

Temple’s previous best shooting effort was 68.4 percent — also against Rhode Island on Feb. 21, 1973.

The Owls, who are 53-15 all-time against the Rams, swept the season series having won 68-64 at Rhode Island on Jan. 10.