Defense Leads Way as Men’s Basketball Downs Tulane, 65-57

Saturday, January 16

New Orleans, LA

1:00 P.M.

Temple University

3-3,2-3AAC

Tulane

6-4,1-4AAC

Temple

Tulane

Photo by: Parker Waters

Defense Leads Way as Men’s Basketball Downs Tulane, 65-57

1.16.21 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Damian Dunn Postgame Interview Aaron McKie Postgame Interview Jake Forrester Postgame Interview

NEW ORLEANS – Leading 28-26 at the half, Temple clamped down defensively over the final 20 minutes in posting a 65-57 win over Tulane at Fogelman Arena Saturday afternoon. The Owls (3-3, 2-3 AAC) held the Green Wave to 9-of-34 shooting in the second half (23.1%) to break the game open.

Redshirt freshman Damian Dunn scored 16 of his game-high 20 points in the second half while junior Jake Forrester had his first double-double of the season with 15 points, on five-of-six shooting from the field, and 10 rebounds. Jaylen Forbes led the Green Wave, who were without their head coach Ron Hunter (COVID protocol issues), with 14 points.

Recapping the Game
First Half
> Temple jumped out of the gate quickly, making its first five shots to take a 15-4 lead by the first media timeout. All five starters scored with De'Vondre Perry (10 points) leading the way with five points.
> Tulane responded with a 10-3 run, holding the Owls to one-for-seven shooting over the next four minutes to cut the deficit to 18-14.
> The Owls pushed the margin back to seven, 23-16, on a basket by Perry and a three by J.P. Moorman II, but the Green Wave made two threes around a Dunn basket to bring the game to one possession, 25-22.
> The game stayed tight the remainder of the half with the Owls holding a 28-26 advantage at the break.

Second Half
> Temple again jumped out quickly, scoring the first 11 points of the half to push the margin back to double figures, 39-26.
> Tulane finally got on the scoreboard with two free throws from Gabe Watson, but the Temple defense continued to clamp down on the Green Wave, holding the hosts without a field goal until the 10:07 mark when a Jordan Walker three-pointer snapped an 0-15 drought to cut the deficit to 44-36.
> Dunn answered with a three-pointer to push the lead back to double figures.
> The Owls twice extended their lead to 14 points, the last on a Forrester basket at the 5:08 mark (55-41), before the Green Wave went on a 9-2 run to cut the margin to seven, 57-50, with 1:29 remaining.
> Khalif Battle made two free throws and Dunn added another to bring the margin back to double figures, 60-50, with 50 seconds to play.
> Forbes made a three to cut it to seven, but a Jeremiah Williams breakaway dunk and another Battle free throw closed out the game.

Statistically Speaking
> Battle, who has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury, saw his first action of the season.
> Forrester's 17 points tied his career-high.
> Moorman pulled down nine rebounds to go along with six points and four assists.
> Williams (5 pts) had tied Moorman for team honors with four assists against one turnover.
> The Owls out-rebounded the Green Wave, 48-32, and made 17 assists on 22 field goals.
> Temple's defense held Tulane to 20-of-63 from the field overall (31.7%).
> The Owls struggled from the free throw line, making 13-of-23 for 56.5%
> Temple has now won six straight games at Tulane.

Next Up
> Temple returns home to take on Cincinnati Wednesday (9 pm/ESPN2/1210 AM WPHT).