MEN

TC (23-4, 7-4) dialed up seven of its 10 3-pointers in the first half and didn't look back after going up for good 5 minutes into the contest.

Kedrian Johnson, who before the game was presented to the crowd as Temple's all-time leading scorer during head coach Kirby Johnson's 33-year tenure at the college, added a team-high 28 points to his career total that is now 1,457.

Hugo Florestedt made four 3s and finished with 16 points for the Leopards. Aleu Aleu chipped in 13, R.J. Mason 12 and Carlton Linguard 10.

Chris Pryor paced the Highlanders (16-10, 7-4), who thumped TC 84-64 last month. McLennan also got 16 points from Cameron Copeland and 14 from Rayquan Brown but was never closer than 10 after the 5-minute mark of the first half.

"Obviously, our game out there was our worst of the year, and (Kedrian) got a concussion in that game. And we just didn't play well. Part of that was (McLennan) and we knew were better than what we showed up there," Kirby Johnson said. "(Tonight), I thought we played well, we were efficient, except for the last 5 minutes. But, we were efficient. We had guys that made plays."

About the only downside in the Leopards' emphatic victory was a left-ankle injury suffered by Mason with 7:23 left in the second half.

TC was up by 24 at the time but was outscored 25-12 the rest of the way.

"Our problem is, we only had eight guys tonight and then R.J. goes down," Kirby Johnson said. "When he went down, I was just like, 'Man, can we not catch a break at all?' Hopefully, this is not too serious.

"But this is a big win because it puts us in better position for the playoffs."

TC next challenges Ranger on the road Wednesday then hosts Southwestern Christian College on Saturday for what will be soon-to-be retired Kirby Johnson's final home game.