Highlanders fall to Temple

The McLennan Highlanders fell to the Temple Leopards 75-68.

McLennan came out flat, allowing Temple to open the game on a 10-0 run. Temple increased the lead to 14, 18-4, midway through the half. The Highlanders began to rally, using an 8-0 run to cut the lead to six, 18-12, with 10:22 remaining in the first half. McLennan took a one-point lead, its first of the game, on an Alex Mills 3-pointer with 20 seconds on the clock. Temple's Shawn Gulley drained two free throws in the final seconds to tie the game at 30 at halftime.

The Highlanders opened the second half on a 9-2 run to take a seven-point lead, 39-32. Temple cut the lead to one before McLennan pulled away. The Highlanders took their first double-digit lead, 62-52, with 6:53 remaining in the game. McLennan led 66-55 with five minutes to play. The Leopards ended the game on a 20-3 run to steal the win.

Jalen Jones and James Harrison led the Highlanders with 21 points.

McLennan returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Ranger. The women's game begins at 2 p.m., followed by the men's game at 4 p.m.

Temple: Keyunta Watkins 2 4-4 10; Joe Jackson 4 5-8 13; Chad Cantrell 2 0-0 6; Marcus Frazier 3 2-2 9; Ray Edwards 4 3-6 17; Cole Price 0 2-2 2; Shawn Gulley 7 9-10 24; Totals: 22 25-32 75.

McLennan: Jalen Jones 6 8-8 21; Elijah Mayes 1 0-0 3; James Harrison 9 2-2 21; Alex Mills 3 0-0 8; Ricardo Artis 1 0-0 2; Jeff Beverly 1 0-0 2; Ben Brown-White 0 0-4 0; Aundre Jackson 2 0-0 4; Zach Charles 1 5-6 7; Totals: 24 15-20 68.

3-pointers: Temple 6 (Watkins 2, Cantrell 2, Frazier 1, Gulley 1), McLennan 5 (Mills 2, Jones 1, Mayes 1, Harrison 1); Total fouls: Temple 16; McLennan 23; Fouled out: McLennan (Boyd); Halftime score: McLennan 30, Temple 30; Record: McLennan 20-5 (5-2).