PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Dionte Christmas scored 26 points and Craig Williams added 16 in his first start as Temple defeated Kent State 73-58 Monday night.
Williams, a 6-9 sophomore who had scored six points this season, shot 5-for-9 from the field, including 3-for-6 from 3-point range.
Tyree Evans scored 17 points and Al Fisher 13 for Kent State (7-7), which hit on 21 of 64 shots.
Temple (6-6) led 45-31 with 14:25 left before the Golden Flashes rallied to within 52-45 after consecutive 3-pointers by Evans.
The Owls then rattled off eight straight points, five by Christmas, to lead 60-45. Temple took its biggest lead, 68-52, with 4:12 remaining.
Temple made 24 of 52 shots, and went 17-for-19 from the line.
Kent State converted 12 of 21 shots from the line.
