(BCSNN) — Sophomore Aiden Tobiason scored 23 points, including 16 in the second half, to lead Temple to an 83–65 win over Delaware State in the Owls’ season opener Tuesday night at the Liacouras Center.

Temple (1–0) had five players score in double figures, including Gavin Griffiths with 16 points, Derrian Ford with 14, and Jordan Mason and AJ Smith with 10 each. Smith reached a career milestone with his 1,000th point, having previously played at Charleston and The Citadel.

Griffiths and Mason combined for seven of Temple’s first 10 points, and the Owls used a strong defensive stretch midway through the first half — including a block by Tobiason — to hold the Hornets scoreless for three minutes. Temple led 44–36 at halftime, powered by a 14-rebound advantage and seven boards from Babatunde Durodola.

The second half remained close until Temple pulled away in the fourth quarter behind Tobiason’s scoring surge. Ford and Tobiason each had seven points in the first 10 minutes of the half, and the Owls extended their lead to 19 late in the game.

Temple forced seven first-half turnovers and finished with 3,637 fans in attendance. The Owls shot efficiently and controlled the glass throughout, with Durodola leading the team in rebounds and Griffiths adding a steal and a block.

Delaware State (0–1) was led by Alden Applewhite with 21 points.

Up next: Temple hosts La Salle on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. ET in a Big 5 matchup. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

This article originally appeared in its entirety as a feature on BCSNN.