Temple could have its top two scorers available for Thursday’s AAC Tournament opener

Temple hasn’t gotten many chances to see its roster at full strength, but Thursday’s game could be as close as it gets.

Damian Dunn was the team’s top offensive weapon most of the season as the Owls awaited a ruling on Khalif Battle’s eligibility. Battle, a transfer from Butler, was eventually allowed to play this season, and all he did was average a team-high 14.7 points per game and earn third-team all-American Athletic Conference honors. Dunn (13.8 ppg) was named to the AAC all-freshman team.

The duo played seven regular-season games together before Dunn suffered a knee injury that has sidelined him since Feb. 12. Temple went 2-5 when Dunn and Battle played, but since both players are aggressive scorers who like the ball in their hands, it was going to take time to establish chemistry, and the Owls didn’t get much time.

There’s a chance Temple (5-10) will have its top scoring duo available during the AAC Tournament. The Owls will face South Florida (8-12) Thursday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The first-round AAC matchup will tip off at noon.

Dunn has returned to practice and participated in live drills with the team, coach Aaron McKie said. His status for Thursday is unknown, but it’s progress; in late February, McKie said Dunn was struggling to run.

The duo both scored in double figures only twice in the same game. Battle averaged 10.3 points in the seven games Dunn was active. He averaged 25 points in the three games Dunn missed.

Two of those games came against USF on Feb. 21 and 24, when Battle scored 32 and 22 points.

“We need his scoring output, obviously,” McKie said. “We need him to play well for us on both ends of the floor.”

Temple and South Florida split their regular-season meetings. The Bulls won 83-76 at the Liacouras Center, then the Owls won 65-47 three days later in Tampa, Fla.

» READ MORE: Temple men snap six-game losing streak against South Florida with 65-47 win

The difference in those meetings was how Temple handled USF’s massive frontline. The Bulls are one of the best rebounding teams in the AAC. They’re in the AAC’s top three in offensive rebounds per game, offensive rebounding percentage and defensive rebounding percentage.

In the first meeting, USF had 15 offensive rebounds and 14 second-chance points. Temple limited USF to five second-chance points in the second game.

“We have to win the paint battle against those guys,” McKie said. “If they’re winning that offensive rebound battle [and] they win that paint battle, we have no shot against those guys.”

The Owls haven’t played since that Feb. 24 meeting against the Bulls. USF has had three games since then, all losses, and last played March 6 against Wichita State.

“It seems like every time we try to find some flow, something happens,” McKie said. “That hurts. You just have to be prepared. That’s really been the year for us; just a lot of inconsistencies with things.”

USF is seeded eighth and Temple ninth. The winner will play top-seeded Wichita State at noon on Friday.