Dunn Drains Buzzer-Beating Three to Lift Temple to 78-75 Win over ECU

Saturday, January 8

Philadelphia, Pa.

2:00 P.M.

Temple University

9-6,2-2AAC

ECU

10-4,1-1AAC

East Carolina

Temple

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Dunn Drains Buzzer-Beating Three to Lift Temple to 78-75 Win over ECU

1.8.22 | Men's Basketball

Box Score Monte' Ross Interview Damian Dunn Interview Nick Jourdain Interview

PHILADELPHIA - Damian Dunn scored a career-high 33 points and drained a 25-foot three-pointer as time expired to lift Temple to a 78-75 win over East Carolina Saturday afternoon at the Liacouras Center. Nick Jourdain also added a career high 16 points to help the Owls improve to 9-6 overall and 2-2 in American Athletic Conference play. ECU falls to 10-4, 1-1 AAC.

Temple played its second straight game under the direction of associate head coach Monte' Ross as head coach Aaron McKie missed another game due to covid protocols.   Jake Forrester (non-covid illness) and Tai Strickland (back) sat out their third straight games.

First Half
> The Owls started quickly, scoring the first seven points of the game, but after missing their first six shots the Pirates went on a 13-1 run to take a 13-8 lead with 12:35 to play on a Tristen Newton jumper.
> After a Damian Dunn three-pointer cut the deficit to a basket, 17-15, ECU went inside, scoring eight of the next 10 points with six coming from their big man Alanzo Frink, to take a 25-17 lead.
> Three minutes later the Pirates would extend their lead to double-figures, 32-22 on a JJ Miles layup.
> The margin would extend to 11, 34-23, before the Owls would go on an 11-4 run to cut the deficit to 38-34 on a Jeremiah Williams dunk with26 seconds on the clock.   Nick Jourdain, who picked up his third foul during the three-minute stretch, contributed a dunk and big steal that led to Williams' slam.
> A bench technical was called on the Owls with five seconds left and Newton drained two free throws to make the halftime score 40-34.

Second Half
> With ECU holding an eight-point lead, Temple ran off 13 straight points to take a 55-50 advantage with Dunn's two free throws giving the Owls their first lead (51-50) since the 14-minute mark of the first half.   Jourdain, who added a basket, made a big steal and drew an offensive foul during the stretch.
> The Owls could not gain more separation as Vance Johnson drained a three at the eight-minute mark to tie the game at 57.
> After ECU regained the lead, 69-68, on free throws by Tremont Robinson-White, Williams found Jahlil White for a three-pointer to give Temple a 71-69 advantage with just under three minutes to play.
> A free throw by Frink followed by steal and dunk by Robinson-White put ECU back in front, 72-71.
> Williams then was fouled on a drive and calmly made two from the line to give the Owls back the lead.
> White then came up with a huge steal and Dunn was fouled with 28.7 seconds to play.
> Robinson-White then was fouled by Jourdain on a driving layup and he converted the three-point play to tie the game at 75.
> That set up the final play where Dunn took the ball at the top of the key with nine seconds to play, dribbled to his right and launched his long-range jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining for his second straight game-winning three.Statistically Speaking
> Williams also tallied double figures with 10 points while dishing six assists and making a game-high three blocked shots.
> The Owls shot 49.1 percent from the field and a sizzling 57.7 percent in the second half.
> Temple also turned the ball over only seven times while making eight steals and forcing 12 ECU miscues.
> Frink (15 pts) led three double figure scorers for the Pirates.

Next Up
> Temple travels to Tulsa for a Wednesday night showdown (7 pm/ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT).