Richmond Routs Temple 79-53 at Palestra
Richmond won by 26 in Temple's first Palestra game since 2022, during the venue's 100th-year celebration.
Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Basketball
Richmond defeated Temple 79-53 on Sunday at the Palestra during the venue's centennial celebration. Richmond scored the game's first 14 points and led by as many as 31 in the second half.
Why it matters
The result came in a rare Temple appearance at the Palestra, where the Owls held a 280-143 record entering the game. The loss was marked by 16 Temple turnovers and a 7-for-32 performance from three-point range.
Temple shot 29.6% from the field and 7-for-32 on three-pointers, while Richmond shot 50.8% and posted 22 assists on 30 made baskets. Temple trailed 37-23 at halftime, and the announced crowd was 3,600.
The players
Derrick Morton-Rivera
Morton-Rivera is a Temple guard who won a Catholic League title with Father Judge at the Palestra before playing college basketball.
The details
Richmond scored the game's first 14 points, prompting an early Temple timeout. Derrick Morton-Rivera scored his first two college points on two free throws after forcing a late second-half turnover and drawing a foul in transition.
Timeline
Temple last played at the Palestra in 2022 before this game.
Temple previously called the Palestra home from 1955 to 1984.
Temple will play St. Bonaventure at the Palestra on Dec. 12, its second appearance in the centennial celebration.
Temple hosts Charleston at the Liacouras Center on Wednesday.
Season Trajectory
Temple's return to the Palestra during its centennial year marks a brief reconnection with a building it used as its home court from 1955 to 1984. The result places the Owls in an early-season position where turnover and shooting problems will need correction before their next home game.
The result drops Temple's early-season standing and gives fantasy managers a clear signal on the Owls' guard rotation. Readers following the next Palestra date on Dec. 12 can track whether the turnover numbers improve.
The takeaway
The game showed that shooting efficiency and ball security decided the outcome, with Temple's 16 turnovers offering a clear point of improvement. Fans can watch whether the Owls tighten those areas in their next two home contests.
What happens next
Temple hosts Charleston at the Liacouras Center on Wednesday, and plays St. Bonaventure at the Palestra on Dec. 12.
Further reading
For more college hoops coverage from the region, see Basketball in Philadelphia.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Philadelphia Inquirer.
