Temple Basketball Falls in Preseason Scrimmage
The Temple men's basketball team lost to George Washington during a recent exhibition matchup in Washington, D.C.
Updated on Oct. 20, 2026 in Basketball
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Temple men's basketball dropped three periods during a preseason scrimmage against George Washington on October 11, 2026. The Owls utilized 13 players in the loss as the team works to refine its rotation.
Why it matters
Head coach Adam Fisher described the result as a wake-up call to identify key areas for team growth before the regular season. The coaching staff is focusing on rebounding after the team struggled during the exhibition outing.
Temple rotated 13 players during the exhibition, with each athlete logging at least eight to nine minutes on the floor. New addition Christian Beam, who stands 7-foot-1, averaged 3.2 points and 3.9 rebounds per game last season at Georgia State.
The players
Adam Fisher
He serves as the head coach for the Temple men's basketball team.
Christian Beam
He is a 7-foot-1 basketball player who transferred to Temple after playing at Georgia State.
Derrian Ford
He is a member of the Temple basketball team who was unavailable for the scrimmage due to an injury.
The details
The scrimmage utilized a 20-minute, 20-minute, and 10-minute period format to evaluate the roster. Temple was without Derrian Ford, who missed the action due to an injury.
Timeline
October 11, 2026: Temple scrimmaged George Washington in Washington, D.C.
October 19, 2026: Temple held media day at the Liacouras Center.
November 2, 2026: Temple plays Central Connecticut State in season opener.
Season Trajectory
This early loss highlights the challenges Temple faces as it integrates new players before the official start of the schedule. Facing a George Washington squad ranked 5th in their conference preseason poll provides the Owls with a baseline for their defensive and rebounding needs.
The coaching staff will need to adjust their rebounding schemes before the regular season begins on November 2, 2026. Fans should monitor the injury status of Derrian Ford to see if he returns for the opener against Central Connecticut State.
The takeaway
Developing a consistent rebounding strategy remains a top priority for coach Adam Fisher following the preseason loss. Implementing these adjustments is essential for the team to compete effectively in their upcoming season opener.
What happens next
Temple University will officially tip off its 2026-2027 season against Central Connecticut State on November 2, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on the Owls as they prepare for the upcoming year, visit the Basketball page.
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