Dunn Delivers Game-Winner Again as Men’s Basketball Defeats Cincinnati, 61-58

Tuesday, January 25

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 P.M.

Temple University

11-6,4-2AAC

Cincinnati

14-6,4-3AAC

Cincinnati

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Dunn Delivers Game-Winner Again as Men’s Basketball Defeats Cincinnati, 61-58

1.25.22 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Aaron McKiew Postgame Interview Damian Dunn Postgame Interview Jeremiah Williams Postgame Interview

PHILADELPHIA – Damian Dunn made a three-point play with 36 seconds to play, and Tai Strickland added a free throw to lift Temple to its fourth straight win, 61-58, over Cincinnati Tuesday night at the Liacouras Center. The Owls overcame a 14-point second half deficit in snapping a nine-game losing streak against the Bearcats.

Dunn, who had earlier hit game-winning threes against UCF and East Carolina, led all scorers with 18 points while Jeremiah Williams (15) and Nick Jourdain (10 points, seven rebounds) also tallied double figures for the Owls (11-6, 4-2 AAC), who are now in third place in the conference standings. David DeJulius led the Bearcats (14-6, 4-3 AAC) with 15 points.

Recapping the Game
First Half
>The game went as expected with two of the AAC's top defensive teams on the court. Neither team was able to get into an offensive rhythm until the final four minutes when Cincinnati went on a 13-1 run to take a 37-25 advantage at the break.
> Temple, which had not played in 13 days, struggled from the field, hitting just 28.6 percent of its shots, while turning the ball over an uncharacteristic nine times.
> The Owls held close to the Bearcats as their defense limited the visitors to 10-of-33 shooting (30.3%) until hitting five of its final six shots on the closing run.
> The Bearcats also made six three-pointers, including three in the final four minutes.

Second Half
> The Bearcats extended their lead to 14, 41-27, three minutes into the half before the Owls started to claw their way back.
> Temple ran off six straight on dunks by Jahlil White and Jourdain and another basket by White to bring the margin under double figures, 41-33.
> Cincinnati then scored seven of the next 10 points to move its lead back to 12, 48-36.
> A 7-0 Temple run, capped by a Williams three-point play, pulled the Owls to within five, 48-33, with 10:36 to play.
> After the Bearcats built the margin back to eight, 51-43, the Owls ran off another nine straight to take their first lead of the half, 52-51 with 4:13 to play on two Dunn free throws.
> DeJulius answered with four straight points to put Cincinnati back in front, 55-52, with 2:53 left.
> Jourdain made a pair of free throws for the Owls, but DeJulius then converted three straight free throws after being fouled on a three-point attempt, making it 58-54.
> The Owls then scored the final seven points. White started the run with a free throw and Dunn added a long two-pointer, cutting it to one, 58-57, with 1:18 remaining.
> Williams then blocked a shot with Strickland coming up with the rebound.
> That set up Dunn for his heroics, scoring in traffic in the paint while getting fouled. His free throw made it 60-58.
> Strickland then grabbed another rebound, his career-high 10^th of the game, with 14 seconds left and made one of two from the line.
> Hayden Koval missed a three-pointer with four seconds left to end the Cincinnati comeback.

Statistically Speaking
> Strickland returned to the court for the first time since the team's game against Delaware State (Dec. 29) to lead the Owls in rebounding. He added three points in 17 minutes.
> Temple pulled down a season-high 50 rebounds.
> Jourdain had another strong game, pulling down seven rebounds (5 offensive) and blocking two shots.

Next Up
> Temple next plays at SMU on Saturday, Jan. 29 (3 pm/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT).