Griffiths’ Career Night Lifts Temple Past East Carolina

PHILADELPHIA —Gavin Griffiths is no longer just having a hot stretch — he’s forcing his way into the conversation as Temple’s most reliable two-way player.

For the second straight game, Griffiths delivered a career-high scoring performance, pouring in 24 points to lead Temple past East Carolina, 75–67, and extend the Owls’ winning streak to seven games, their longest in nearly a decade.

Fresh off earning Big 5 Player of the Week honors, Griffiths followed his breakout night against UTSA with an even more complete effort. He didn’t just score — he controlled the game. Along with his 24 points, Griffiths added six rebounds, four blocks, two steals, and two assists, repeatedly shutting down East Carolina runs with timely defense and confident shot-making.

Temple looked even more complete with Derrain Ford back in the lineup. After missing the previous game with a concussion, Ford showed no rust, finishing with 18 points and delivering the kind of late-game composure this team has lacked at times in recent seasons. Jordan Mason quietly steadied the offense with 11 points and five assists.

East Carolina had an answer in Jordan Riley, who torched his former team for 29 points in a homecoming performance that kept the Pirates within striking distance. Riley played for Temple during 2023-24 season. Giovanni Emejuru added 19 points and nine rebounds, and East Carolina’s second-half surge exposed some familiar Temple scoring droughts. But unlike earlier versions of this team, the Owls didn’t fold.

After building a 15-point halftime lead and pushing it to 18 early in the second half, Temple absorbed East Carolina’s best punch. When the lead shrank to five with under five minutes to play, Griffiths buried a momentum-stopping three and Ford calmly knocked down free throws to close it out.

With the loss, East Carolina falls to 5–10 overall and 0–2 in AAC play. The Pirates return home on Sunday to face UAB.

The Owls improve to 11–5 overall and 3–0 in AAC play, with their only recent blemish coming on a buzzer-beater loss to Saint Joseph’s on Dec. 6. With a week off before a road test at defending AAC champion Memphis on Jan. 14.

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-Adam Mack