The Temple College Leopards looked for a big win on Wednesday night as they traveled to Hillsboro to take on Hill College.

Temple jumped out to an early lead and only trailed for 45 seconds in the game, as they sprinted past the Rebels, 77-63.

Josh Telfort and Harry Bates combined for seven points in the game's first 2:24. The Leopards scored seven of the next 11 points to stretch the lead to nine points, 13-4, with 15:56 left in the first half.

Hill pieced together a 17-7 run that lasted 5:18 to take a 22-21 lead with 10:12 left in the half.

Temple responded with 10-0 run which lasted 4:04, with Jonty Kells, Ovie Agbigbe, and Byron Piper having combined to score the run's assets, which gave Temple a 30-21 lead.

The teams traded points late, as the Leopards took a 36-29 advantage into the halftime break.

Telfort, Bates, and Jaymes Brown-Peterson set the tone early in the second half as the Leopards stretched the lead out to 14 points, 45-31.

Hill whittled the margin back to seven points, 57-50, with 7:01 remaining.

Temple's offense continued battle away and stretched the Leopards' lead to 17 points late, 74-57, with 1:45 to go.

The Rebels finished the game with a 6-3 run to cut the Temple lead to 14 at the end.

The Leopards converted 20-of-28 free-throws and hit seven three-pointers.

Temple had five players in double figures. Bates and Tayshaun Goston each had 14 points, Agbigbe and Telfort each score 11 points, and Kells chipped in ten.

The Rebels shot 15-of-25 at the foul line and hit four three-point baskets.

Temi Omotoyinbo led the Rebels with 14 points, and Derrick Morris added 12.

Temple will host Weatherford College on Saturday at 4 pm at Kirby Johnson Court.

What the win did for the Leopards

As of Thursday morning, the Leopards sit in third place at 7-4, one-half game behind Collin in second and two-and-half games behind MCC.

The win put the Leopards in a two-game lead in front of Ranger, three-game lead of Southwestern Christian and Grayson, and a four-game lead over Weatherford and Hill.

NTJCAC men's basketball standings

MCC 8-0 (next game: Sat. vs. Grayson)

Collin 7-3 (next game: Sat. vs. Hill)

Temple 7-4 (next game: Sat. vs. Weatherford)

Ranger 4-5 (next game: Sat. at Southwestern)

Southwestern 3-6 (next game: Sat. vs. Ranger)

Grayson 3-6 (next game: Sat. at MCC)

Weatherford 3-7 (next game: Sat. at Temple)

Hill 3-7 (next game: Sat. at Collin)