Damian Dunn’s key foul shots secure Temple’s 75-70 win over Tulane
The Owls overcame a bad start to eventually get the upper hand against the Green Wave.
Damian Dunn’s two free throws with 6 seconds left made it a two-possession game and sealed Temple’s 75-70 victory over Tulane on Sunday afternoon in an American Athletic Conference game at the Liacouras Center.
Prior to Dunn’s foul shots, the Green Wave, down 73-70, could have gone for the tie, but Quentin Scott committed a crucial turnover ending Tulane’s chances.
With the game close and the Owls leading 64-60 at the 2-minute mark, Temple made 7-of-9 foul shots, including 5-for-5 by Dunn, who also hit a jumper down the stretch. Zach Hicks also hit a jumper.
Dunn led Owls with 19 points. Hicks and Tai Strickland added 15 points apiece while Jahlil White added 13 points and 12 boards.
The win moved Temple (16-10, 9-6 American Athletic Conference) into fourth place in the conference, with Tulane (12-13, 9-7) in fifth place.
The last time the Owls played the Green Wave on Feb. 12, they lost 92-83 in overtime and were without Dunn (ankle) and Jeremiah Williams (shoulder). Williams did not play Sunday.
Tulane was led by guards Jaylen Forbes with 19 points and Jalen Cook with 14.
Temple will travel to conference-leading Houston (24-4, 13-2) at 7 p.m. Thursday before wrapping up the regular season at home Sunday against South Florida (8-20, 3-13).
Owls’ tough start
Temple was down 8-0 less than four minutes into the game before rolling off 12 straight points – capped by a Hicks’ three-pointer – over the next four minutes for a 12-8 lead.
Temple and Tulane settled into a decent rhythm the rest of half, which ended with the Owls trailing, 31-29.
Hysier Miller, who filled Williams’ spot as the point guard, opened the second half with a pull-up jumper, then a minute later hit a three-pointer from the top of the arc to give the Owls a 34-31 lead.
He then hit a step-back three to put the Owls up by six points – at 40-34 – for the first time in the game. Miller finished with 10 points and six assists.
Temple tied its largest lead when it went up 72-66 with 33 seconds left in the game.