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Temple outlasts Vanderbilt in overtime, 72-68, for its fifth straight win

Despite blowing a late five-point lead in regulation, the Owls regroup and beat the Commodores on their home floor.

Temple's Jeremiah Williams (25) drives against Vanderbilt's Trey Thomas (12) during the first half of their game on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn.
Temple's Jeremiah Williams (25) drives against Vanderbilt's Trey Thomas (12) during the first half of their game on Tuesday, Dec. 7, 2021, in Nashville, Tenn.Read moreMark Humphrey / AP
    by Staff and Wire Reports, For The Inquirer
    Published 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tai Strickland scored 18 of his 21 points in the second half and overtime, and Temple beat Vanderbilt, 72-68, on Tuesday night, becoming the second straight American Athletic Conference foe to beat the Commodores.

Strickland made a steal and hit two free throws at the other end for a 67-65 lead with 1 minute, 16 seconds left in overtime. Vanderbilt got an offensive rebound on its next possession and Jamaine Mann made 1 of 2 free throws.

Damian Dunn sank a contested three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to extend Temple’s lead to 70-66 at 20.5 seconds left.

After another offensive rebound for Vanderbilt, Mann scored to make it 70-68 with 12.7 seconds left, but Jeremiah Williams made two free throws for a four-point lead and Trey Thomas missed a three-pointer at the buzzer.

Vanderbilt was coming off an 84-72 loss to SMU.

Dunn finished with 18 points for Temple (6-3), which has won five in a row.

Temple was playing without its leading scorer, Khalif Battle (21.4 ppg), who is out for the season. Strickland missed the previous two games with a thigh injury.

Dunn made two free throws with 13 seconds left in regulation to give Temple a 58-53 lead. Scotty Pippen Jr. missed a three-pointer at the other end, but Vanderbilt got the offensive rebound and Mann was fouled while making a basket to get within three points. Mann intentionally missed the free throw and the ball went out of bounds, last touched by a Temple player. After a timeout with 2,.7 seconds left, Jordan Wright found Pippen in the corner, who made a contested three-pointer. Temple inbounded it with 0.5 of a second left, but a long heave didn’t hit the rim as time expired.

Wright and Pippen led Vanderbilt (5-3) with 16 points apiece. Mann added 15.

Series History

The two teams were playing each other for first time since Temple beat Vanderbilt, 67-59, in the 1993 NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 in Seattle. The two schools split a pair of games in the 1949-50 season.

Coaching Connection

Vanderbilt head coach Jerry Stackhouse and Temple coach Aaron McKie were part of a 1997 trade that sent Stackhouse to the Detroit Pistons and McKie to the 76ers.