Photo by Harvey Levine/OwlsDaily
(PHILADELPHIA, PA) After a 13 game break due to Health and Safety protocols, Temple came out the gates very slow. Although keeping up with the Bearcats for the first 15 minutes of the night, Cincinnati ended the first half on a 10-1 run, going into the locker room up 37-25.
Known for their second-halves, Temple jump-started their comeback on the defensive side of the ball. Mike Saunders Jr. hit a free throw with eight minutes remaining, extending the lead to eight. Temple went on to not allow another point for the next four minutes of the game while scoring nine unanswered.
After taking a 52-51 lead with 3:34 remaining, it became a free throw battle from both squads. The referees seemed to be calling everything, as both teams played very physical defense.
With 36 seconds remaining, Temple was down 58-57, with Jeremiah Williams looking to inbound the ball. David DeJulius was guarding Damian Dunn in the high post, a size advantage for Temple. As soon as the referee sounded the whistle, Williams threw it up for Dunn, as DeJulius was off-centered and not paying attention.
Dunn grabbed it over DeJulius and came down with his back facing the basket. He immediately turned, looked at the basket, and nailed the game-sealing fade away along with getting fouled. Liacouras went crazy, as Temple had completed the 15 point comeback.
.@Dam1anKD again to give @TUMBBHoops the lead on ESPNU#AmericanHoops pic.twitter.com/khOHN6VQzy
— American MBB (@American_MBB) January 26, 2022
Damian talked about this clutch shot after the game by saying, “I saw that I had a little height advantage over the guy, and I just turned around, shot over him and got hit a little bit, and it fell. Just being able to capitalize on moments like that and trying to take advantage of their disadvantages.”
After two missed threes to tie the game, Temple headed into the locker room, claiming the third spot in the AAC with their eyes now focused on the 6-1 SMU Mustangs.
Although shooting poorly from the field, Damian Dunn scored 18 points, 13 of them coming in the second half. After the game, Coach McKie talked about what he said to Damian, although struggling from the field.
“Damian was struggling throughout the game, and he was getting down on himself. I just kept saying stay with it. You’re missing some shots, I said it’s okay, but you will make the ones that we need and the ones that count.” Coach McKie has complete trust in his players to make the right plays down the stretch, and it showed in a game like this.
Jeremiah Williams showed why he’s one of the best two-way guards in the conference, putting up 15 points, five assists, and two blocks while holding DeJulius to 4-15 from the field.
Point Guard pushin 🅿️ins?🎳
𝗔𝗟𝗟 𝗜𝗡! @jeremiah0002 pic.twitter.com/BO8mYDb2Qc
— Temple Men's Basketball (@TUMBBHoops) January 28, 2022
With Cincinnati being a team that loves to shoot from downtown, Temple prevented them from getting any open looks. The Bearcats finished the game 7-33 from three, including their best shooter Jeremiah Davenport shooting 2-10 from beyond the arc.
After missing a significant amount of time due to a back injury, Tai Strickland was the spark plug this young team needed. Tai had a fantastic hustle game, with three points, two assists, and a season-high ten rebounds. Many of his 18 minutes played late in the second half, as he hit the final free throw to put the Owls up three.
NEXT UP
Extending their win streak to four, the Owls look to face their most significant opponent of the season, the 6-1 SMU Mustangs Saturday, January 29th at 3:00 eastern time. Although claiming the third spot in the AAC, ESPN only gives Temple a 10.2% chance to come out victorious.
