VILLANOVA, Pa. – With the Villanova Wildcats staring up at a second half deficit, sophomore guard Jermaine Samuels stepped forward in a major way Wednesday night at the Finneran Pavilion. The native of Franklin, Mass., scored 15 second half points to lead a comeback as No. 21/21 Villanova rallied past Temple 69-59.
 
After trailing 43-38 with 9:44 to play, the Wildcats outscored Temple 31-16 to secure their 24^th consecutive victory in Philadelphia Big Five play. VU's last loss in the City Series came six years ago to this date – Dec. 5, 2012 at the original Pavilion against Temple.
 
"We very easily could have been on the other end of this," stated Villanova head coach Jay Wright.
 
Graduate transfer Joe Cremo provided another second half spark, finishing with 11 points as Temple expended considerable effort slowing VU scoring leaders Phil Booth (nine points) and Eric Paschall (10 points).
 
"These two (Samuels and Cremo) were just awesome. We were struggled to score against a very good Temple team. They were really the difference."
 
Temple jumped out to a 4-0 lead after a first possession score and a Quinton Rose steal and score before a 3-pointer from Collin Gillespie got the Wildcats (7-2 overall, 2-0 Big Five) on the scoreboard. That began a 10-0 run that gave VU a 10-4 edge after four minutes of action.
 
The early flurry of points slowed as the game moved deeper into the first half. Defense was the story at both ends, as each team made life tough for the other at the offensive end. After Eric Paschall sank two free throws with 4:56 to play in the period, the Wildcats held a 21-18 lead.
 
Temple didn't get its first 3-pointer until under a minute remained in the first half but when Shizz Alston Jr. dropped one in, the Owls took a 23-21 lead. Joe Cremo quickly responded with a 3-pointer for the Wildcats before Temple used a timeout for a possession with 33.6 seconds to play in the period. The half ended with the two teams diving for a loose ball as the final seconds ticked off.
 
At the half Villanova led 24-23. The Wildcats were 9-of-24 from the field in the period (.375) while Temple was 10-of-25 (.400). After scoring 10 points in the game's first four minutes, Villanova produced only 14 points over the period's final 16 minutes.
 
"I thought Jermaine sparked us defensively in the first half," stated Wright. "That's why we put him back in during the second half. The shots were icing on the cake. He's a really good defensive player and one of our best rebounders."
 
Temple's Quinton Rose scored the first five points of the second half to match its largest lead of the first half. The Owls led 28-24 as Villanova called for time after 1:38 had been played in the period. A Nate Pierre-Louis bucket extended the lead to 30-24 while the Wildcats were held scoreless for the first three minutes of the period before Paschall dunked to close the gap to 30-26.
 
A 7-0 run by Villanova drew the Wildcats even at 33 before Temple (7-2 overall, 2-1 Big Five) answered with five straight points. Temple held a 38-33 lead as the contest approached the 11 minute mark. A Jermaine Samuels 3-pointer cut the gap to two but Temple came right back with an Alani Moore II triple. It was 41-36.
 
The Owls held a 47-43 lead when the Wildcats were able to ignite offense through defensive stops. Samuels scored eight points in a stretch that saw Villanova reel off 12 consecutive points to move on top 55-47. An Alston 3-pointer off an offensive rebound ended the Temple drought and cut the gap to 55-50 at the 2:45 mark. The Wildcats pulled away late to a double digit triumph.
 
Samuels and Cremo did most of the heavy lifting down the stretch.
 
"I was just playing off of my teammates," stated the sophomore forward. "Within our offense if's always catch to shoot. I was open and just wanted to knock it down, to do it for my guys."
 
 The Lowry Love Foundation Holiday Assist Toy Drive – created by Toronto Raptors All-Star and former Wildcats standout Kyle Lowry - will continue at Saturday's home game vs. Saint Joseph's. Donations may be made then and donations will be accepted throughout the course of the holiday season, to be distributed to inner city youth.
 
Game time Saturday at the Finneran Pavilion is 2 p.m. (FS1 and 610 ESPN Radio).
 
 Toy donations are also being accepted during the holidays at the Villanova Men's Basketball Office, located on the second floor of the Davis Center.