The Temple College men's basketball squad hosted Collin County Community College in North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference action Wednesday evening at Kirby Johnson Court.

Temple had an early, seven-point lead before the Cougars blitzed the Leopards for five points in the final seconds of the first half and bolted past TC in a 21-0 run in the first 4:22 of the second half to give Collin an 81-61 win.

It was a similar run that TC was on the other side of in their game last Saturday against Ranger, with the Leopards jetting out to a combined 29-0 run which bridged between halves, and holding on to down the Rangers.

The Leopards largest lead of the game came with 11:07 to play in the first half, when TC lead 21-14.

Collin employed an 8-0 run in a span of 1:37 to grab a 22-21 advantage.

The teams went back and forth before Temple led 39-34. A missed shot and turnover by the Leopards resulted in five points in the final ten seconds of the half to tie the game at 39-39.

Collin scored the first 21 points of the second half before Joel Brown's lay in stopped the run.

Temple (14-11 overall, 5-4 NTJCAC) was only able to close the gap to 16 points, only to have Collin push the margin out to 22 points.

David Chong led all scorers with 21 points, which included 17 in the second half. Cortlin Siska added 14 points, Brandt Evanson chipped in 13, and Kevin Paul poured in 12.

Tayshaun Goston led Temple with 13 points, Josh Telfort added nine, and Ovie Agbigbe and Joel Brown each chipped in eight.

The loss left Temple in third place, two games behind Collin in second and with a two-game lead over Ranger and Grayson, both at 3-5 and in a fourth-place tie with five games remaining.

The Leopards host Grayson in a pivotal conference battle on Saturday at Kirby Johnson Court.