Texas Tech University Athletics
Matthew Temple Awarded Basketball Scholarship
June 29, 2016 | Men's Basketball
Temple started 15 games for the Red Raiders as a walk-on last season
LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech men's basketball forward Matthew Temple has been awarded an athletic scholarship for his senior season announced Tuesday by head coach Chris Beard.
Temple started Tech's final 15 games in 2015-16 after Norense Odiase's foot injury at TCU on Jan. 18. He scored 66 of his 88 points and grabbed 30 of his 43 rebounds during the 15-game stretch where the Red Raiders earned the program's first NCAA Tournament berth since 2007. The Wichita Falls native piled up a career-high 11 points on 5-of-7 from the floor at Oklahoma State.
Temple participated in summer workouts and joined the Red Raiders as a walk-on after being encouraged to try out by former Red Raider Clark Lammert. He traveled with the team on its Canadian Tour in August and become eligible after the fall semester.
Texas Tech returns its leading scorer (Aaron Ross -- 12.5 PPG), leading rebounder (Zach Smith -- 7.5 RPG) and leading assist man (Keenan Evans -- 2.6 APG) from Big 12 action last season. The Red Raiders also are slated to bring back over 65 percent in all five major statistical categories in points, rebounds, assists, blocks and steals.
Texas Tech has signed a pair of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-Americans in Niem Stevenson and Shadell Millinghaus. The Red Raiders also have inked two graduate transfers in Anthony Livingston, an All-Sun Belt performer from Arkansas State, along with Quinnipiac's Giovanni McLean. Former four-star recruit Brandone Francis has joined Tech from Florida and will sit out the 2016-17 season due to NCAA transfer rules.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter.Â
