Temple University Athletics
OWLS LOSE LAST-SECOND HEARTBREAKER TO MEMPHIS IN NIT SEMIFINAL, 78-77
3.27.02 | Men's Basketball
16-15 with 11:26 left. Memphis then went on a 19-5 run over the next 7:19 to take their largest lead of the half at 34-21 with 4:49 left. The Owls then went on a 14-6 run thanks to Alex Wesby, who scored half of those points, as the Owls cut the deficit to 40-35 at the half. Wagner led all scorers with 17 points while Wesby had 11 points and center Ron Rollerson had nine rebounds for Temple.
The beginning of the second half was closely contested with Memphis stretching their lead to 47-41 with 14:55 remaining on an Antonio Burks basket. Alex Wesby then scord six straight points, sandwiched in between two Burks baskets, as Memphis maintained a 53-49 lead. From there, it became a game of runs. The Owls then outscored the Tigers 14-5 to take a 63-58 lead with 7:02 remaining. But Memphis came right back outscoring the Owls 13-2 over the next 4:07 to take a 71-65 lead with 4:04 left. The Owls then got a three-pointer from Hawkins, a conventional three-pointer from Kevin Lyde and back-to-back three's from Polk to take a 77-74 lead with 1:32 left. But unfortunately for the Owls, they would be the final points they would score on the evening.
A sensational driving layup by Wagner brought the Tigers to within one and then a pretty dish to Wise that resulted in a dunk with 13-seconds left put the Tigers up, 78-77.
The Owls, without a timeout, came up the court, but a Hawkins miss and followup and a missed tip-in by Lyde gave Memphis the hard earned victory,
The Owls will now play Syracuse in the consolation game on Thursday night beginning at 6:30 p.m.
