Jamal Mashburn Jr. scored 21 points and Quante Berry added 19, leading Temple to a stunning 88-81 upset of No. 18 Memphis on Thursday night. The Owls (11-6 overall, 3-1 American) broke a six-game losing streak against the Tigers, earning their most impressive victory of the season.
Shane Dezonie chipped in with 15 points as Temple secured the win despite playing without starting point guard Lynn Greer III for the second consecutive game. Memphis (13-4, 3-1) was led by PJ Haggerty, who scored 21 points. Tyrese Hunter contributed 16 points and Dain Dainja added 14, but the Tigers were unable to close out the game after a late-game misstep.
Temple’s win is a significant boost for second-year head coach Adam Fisher, marking the biggest victory of his tenure and a potential confidence-builder for the Owls, whose last NCAA Tournament appearance came in 2019.
Key Contributions
Mashburn and Berry led the charge for Temple, while Dezonie provided crucial scoring. The Owls dominated in a high-scoring game, hitting 52.4% of their shots from the field. Despite missing Greer, who had been out for personal reasons, Temple played with a sense of urgency and resilience throughout.
For Memphis, the Tigers were unable to capitalize on a late rally, with Haggerty’s missed free throws with 1:57 left proving to be a turning point. With Memphis trailing by four points, Haggerty missed two crucial free throws, and Temple’s Jamal Mashburn Jr. quickly responded with a wide-open dunk, increasing the lead to six and effectively sealing the victory.
Takeaways
- Memphis: The Tigers, who boast impressive wins over teams like Missouri, UConn, Clemson, Virginia, and Mississippi, are in excellent shape for an NCAA at-large bid, even if they don’t win the American Athletic Conference tournament and secure the automatic bid.
- Temple: Beating Memphis is the marquee win of Fisher’s tenure, giving the Owls momentum as they chase an NCAA Tournament berth. The victory also marks a significant achievement for the program, especially after the challenges they’ve faced this season.
Key Moment
The pivotal moment came with 1:57 left in the game. Haggerty missed two free throws that could have cut the margin to two points. Temple then capitalized on the missed opportunity, with Mashburn scoring a wide-open dunk on the ensuing possession to stretch the lead back to six, a critical four-point swing.
Up Next
- Memphis: Heads to Charlotte on Sunday.
- Temple: Hosts Tulane on Sunday.
