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PHILADELPHIA – The La Salle men's basketball team got within one four times during the second half, but couldn't overcome Temple, falling, 76-70, in an Atlantic 10 contest on Wednesday evening at the Liacouras Center.

Sophomore Tyreek Duren led the Explorers with 18 points to go along with six boards.  Junior Ramon Galloway added 17 points.

Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson scored a career-high 19 points for the Owls (12-5, 2-2 A-10), while Ramone Moore added 17.

A defense that has been strong all year was tested by the Owls squad, which would shoot .583 during the second half and .519 overall from the field on the night.  The Explorers hit their shots at a .464 clip.

Missed free throws also hurt the Explorers, as the squad went 9-for-16 from the line.

 “The better team won,” head coach Dr. John Giannini said.  “You have to be disappointed with not being able to get stops when you need it…  But they're really good.  They're really hard to stop.”

The Explorers got out to a 4-0 start, thanks to baskets by Wright and Duren and two Temple turnovers its first two possessions.  La Salle made it a six point lead – its largest of the game – at 11-5 with 15:24 left in the first.

Temple responded with a 6-0 run to tie the contest at 11-all with under 14 minutes on the clock.

The Explorers lost the lead, but stayed within three.  After a steal by Sam Mills, Galloway converted with a trey on the other end to tie the game game at 27-all with 5:35 before the break.

La Salle would go into the locker room at halftime trailing 37-33.

The Explorers got five quick points to start the second half off a Wright put back and a Galloway trey.

But the defense faltered and allowed the Owls to go on a 13-5 run to take a 50-40 lead by 16:05 mark.

La Salle fought to regain its composure and out of a media timeout, Mills nailed a trey to get La Salle within two at 57-55 with 11:09 to play.

A Pettis jumper got La Salle within one at 62-61 with 8:11 to play. After a Temple miss, the Explorers had a chance to get ahead, but Galloway lost the ball.

A similar story would play out three more times before the final buzzer, as the Explorers just couldn't grab the lead.

With the Explorers trailing 70-67, White was called for an offensive foul and Khalif Wyatt knocked down two free throws to make the Temple lead five with 1:22 to play.

Temple blocked nine shots on the night.

White hit the floor hard going up for a shot early in the first half, but would later return to the game.

La Salle (13-6, 2-2 A-10 will return to Tom Gola Arena to face Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon. Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. The first 750 students will receive a Brother Ed Sheehy bobblehead.