Alston, Rose help Temple hold off Georgia 81-77

PHILADELPHIA -- Shizz Alston Jr. and Quinton Rose poured in 25 points apiece and Temple held off Georgia 81-77 on Tuesday night.

The Owls (3-0) opened up a 45-34 lead by the end of the first half with Alston and Rose accounting for 23 points.

The Bulldogs (1-1) whittled away at the lead and pulled within 49-45 on Derek Ogbeide's dunk, but Alston had buckets at both ends of a 7-0 run and Temple pushed its lead back to double figures at 56-45. Georgia pulled within 77-74 on a two free throws by Ogbeide with 1:12 to play, but Rose buried a jumper and Alston hit two free throws with three seconds left to preserve the win.

"The character was definitely there, but we have to learn to be the same…