PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — In a commanding display of offensive efficiency and defensive prowess, the Temple Owls remained undefeated Tuesday night, dispatching the La Salle Explorers 90-63 in a non-conference men’s basketball game at the Liacouras Center.

A crowd of 3,108 watched as the Owls, now 2-0, never trailed, building a double-digit lead in the first half and steadily pulling away after halftime. Temple’s offensive execution was nearly flawless, as they scored 90 points on just 71 possessions for an elite offensive rating of 127.4. In stark contrast, La Salle managed an offensive rating of just 90.8, scoring 63 points from 69 possessions.

The game was decided by Temple’s scorching shooting from the field. The Owls connected on 50 percent of their shots, going 34 for 68, and were particularly lethal from beyond the arc, hitting 12 of 24 three-point attempts. La Salle struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm, shooting 20 for 54 from the floor, a 37 percent clip, and making only 4 of 13 from three-point range.

Derrian Ford led all scorers and was the catalyst for the Temple offense. The guard from Magnolia, Arkansas, poured in 22 points in 33 minutes, adding four assists. He was instrumental in Temple’s backcourt dominance, which proved too much for the Explorers to handle.

He was complemented by a strong all-around performance from Aiden Tobiason of Wilmington, Delaware, who scored 16 points, dished out three assists and recorded two blocks in 32 minutes. Jordan Mason, from San Antonio, Texas, orchestrated the offense effectively, contributing 14 points and a team-high five assists.

La Salle, which fell to 2-1, was led by Rob Dockery of Washington, D.C., who finished with 11 points. Jerome Brewer of Camden, New Jersey, and Damon Strand of Plainfield, New Jersey, each added 10 points in the losing effort. The Explorers’ offense was hampered by a lack of ball movement, registering only five total assists compared to 10 turnovers.

Temple established control early, opening the game on a 16-5 run fueled by three-pointers from Tobiason and Mason. La Salle managed to keep the margin in the teens for much of the first half, but the Owls closed the period strong. A three-pointer from Gavin Griffiths with 54 seconds left before halftime gave Temple its largest lead of the half at 42-29.

Any hopes of a La Salle comeback were quickly extinguished in the second half as Temple’s offense continued to operate at a high level. The Owls methodically expanded their lead, stretching it to 20 points and beyond as the half progressed. A late flurry from the Explorers did little to close the gap, as Temple’s reserves closed out the 27-point victory.

Beyond the shooting disparity, Temple won the battle on the glass, securing 11 offensive rebounds to La Salle’s six. The Owls also protected the rim effectively, blocking eight shots, and forced the Explorers into 10 turnovers while committing only seven themselves.

La Salle will look to rebound on the road Saturday against Penn State. Temple, riding the momentum of two decisive victories to open the season, will host Boston College on Saturday.