Temple wins another close one against Tulsa, 67-58
Tulsa again managed to keep the game close, but the Owls managed the crucial moments of the game to finish off the win.
Arashma Parks of Temple celebrates on the bench as Temple increases its lead over Tulsa late in the game at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
by Sam Cohn, For The Inquirer
Published
Temple is making a habit of closing out tight games.
The Owls (13-7, 6-3 American Athletic Conference) took down Tulsa (7-13, 1-8), 67-58, at the Liacouras Center Saturday afternoon behind a full-team effort at both ends of the floor, staving off a second-half push from the Golden Hurricane.
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“[I’m thinking] I better strap in my seatbelt,” said Temple coach Aaron McKie, about Tulsa’s comeback. “With our guys nothing comes easy. We’re in close games a lot.”
Forward Rey Idowu accounted for most of Tulsa’s offense. He finished with a game-high 21 points while shooting a perfect 8-of-8 from the field.
Temple’s scoring column reflected more diversity. Owl forward Nick Jourdain had a team-high 15 points and 12 rebounds -- his first career double-double. He was followed by 13 points from guard Jeremiah Williams and forward Zach Hicks. Guard Damian Dunn, who fouled out of the game with 1 minute, 25 seconds left, chipped in 11.
The Owls swept the season series from the Golden Hurricane behind Saturday’s win, as they had previously won at Tulsa, 69-64, on Jan. 12. Up next, the Owls are slated to travel to South Florida on Monday, making up a postponed game from late January.
Defensive effort
Temple’s defensive prowess, the kind that doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet, was instrumental in the win.
The Owls made a point of filling passing lanes coupled with deterring high pick-and-roll actions, forcing 16 Tulsa turnovers (compared to Temple’s 7).
Temple’s starting frontcourt tandem of Jourdain and Arashma Parks keyed in on Tulsa’s shooters, Jaylen Draine and Sam Griffin, coming off screens.
An 11-2 run by the Golden Hurricane over the course of four minutes, starting from the 14-minute mark of the second half, tied the game up at 40 with 10 minutes remaining. However, better defensive pressure and a timely Jourdain dunk helped Temple regain and sustain the lead.
Poor 3-point shooting
Hicks found the bottom of the net three times from range, while Williams buried one. The other 19 three-point attempts from the Owls missed the mark (17.4%).
Tulsa’s zone defense gave Temple some extra space to shoot, but most attempts were to no avail, with the Owls finishing 4-for-23 from three.
The Owls came out in the second half playing with a more concerted effort to generate offense inside the arc. Rather than swinging the ball in hopes of putting the defense out of position, they pushed the ball inside for open looks within 15 feet of the basket.
Damian Dunn, center, of Temple shoots over Rey Idowu, left, and Dariek Jackson of Tulsa during the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Damian Dunn, center, of Temple gets sandwiched between Rey Idowu, left, and Sam Griffin, of Tulsa during the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022. No foul was called.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Nick Jourdain, left, of Temple blocks a shot by Sam Griffin of Tulsa during the 1st half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Jahlil White, center, of Temple scores between Curtis HAtwood, left, and Ladavius Draine of Tulsa during the 1st half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
A bunch of Temple fauns in banana costumes for the game against Tulsa at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Zach Hicks, center, of Temple hits a 3-pointer over Darien Jackson of Tulsa to extend the Temple lead to 5 late in the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
The Temple bench, including Quincy Ademokoya, center, reacts after a Nick Jourdain dunk late in the game against Tulsa at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Nick Jourdain of Temple pulls down a rebound against Tulsa during the 1st half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Nick Jourdain, right, of Temple tries to block a shot by Sam Griffin of Tulsa during the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Jeremiah Williams of Temple chases after a loose ball during the 1st half of their game against Tulsa at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Jeremiah Williams, left, of Temple goes past Darien Jackson of Tulsa for a dunk during the 1st half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Damian Dunn, center, of Temple goes up for a shot against Tulsa during the first half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Damian Dunn, center, of Temple collides with Rey Idowu of Tulsa during the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Damian Dunn, center, of Temple gets sandwiched between Rey Idowu, bottom, and Sam Griffin, right, of Tulsa during the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022. No foul was called.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Jahlil White, right, of Temple races after a loose ball in front of Curtis Haywood of Tulsa during the 1st half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Damian Dunn of Temple drives through Tulsa defenders during the 2nd half at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Nick Jourdain of Temple dunks to give Temple a 7 point lead with approximately 2 minutes left in the game against Tulsa at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Arashma Parks of Temple celebrates on the bench as Temple increases its lead over Tulsa late in the game at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 5, 2022.Read moreCHARLES FOX / Staff Photographer
Recognizing Elite Eight Teams
At halftime, Temple honored its 1991 and 2001 teams, both of which made runs to the NCAA Elite Eight under the tutelage of late head coach John Chaney.
Last season would have marked the 20th and 30th anniversaries of both postseason runs. The teams’ recognition was postponed due to COVID policies prohibiting fans from attending home games.
Lynn Greer Jr., Quincy Wadley, Mark Macon, and Nate Blackwell were a few of the former players acknowledged.
