Owls Topple Charlotte in Defensive Battle to Advance to AAC Semifinals

Friday, March 15

Fort Worth, Texas

9:00 P.M.

Temple University

15-19,5-13AAC

Charlotte

19-12,13-5AAC

Temple

Charlotte

Photo by: Paige Wisehaupt

Owls Topple Charlotte in Defensive Battle to Advance to AAC Semifinals

3.16.24 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

FORT WORTH, Texas – Behind a second half rally, the Temple University men's basketball team took down the third-seeded Charlotte 49ers, 58-54, to advance to the semifinals of the AAC Championship on Friday night.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

Steve Settle III led the Owls with 14 points while grabbing six boards.
Jordan Riley had 11 points and 10 rebounds. It is the fourth all-time double-double for Temple in the AAC Tournament.
Sam Hofman had six points and six rebounds.
With his two steals, Hysier Miller tied the AAC Championship record with nine swipes in a single tournament.
For a third consecutive game, Temple set a program best mark for fewest points allowed in an AAC championship game.
TU advances to the AAC semis for the first time since 2016.

HOW IT HAPPENED

It was a slow start both ways as the teams combined to make just 2-of-11 shots into the first media timeout with Charlotte on top 5-2. The game continued to be a battle of the defenses as each team was under 30 percent shooting for the majority of the first half.
Trailing 13-7, Settle drew Temple closer going on a personal 6-2 run, pulling the score to 15-13 at the 4:15 mark. Ultimately, the half belonged to the defense of both teams. The Owls forced nine turnovers by the 49ers in the half and stayed in the contest at the line as Charlotte held a 22-18 lead at the break.
Entering the second half, Riley took over the offense for TU, scoring the first seven points of the frame, the final one on a free throw that tied the contest at 25-25. Charlotte hit a pair of free throws before Temple netted seven in a row in a span of 1:56, forcing a 49ers timeout.
The Owls built the lead to as many as nine on a Settle layup with 4:26 to go. Charlotte fought back but Temple was able to clinch the game at the line.

UP NEXT
TU takes on second-seeded Florida Atlantic on Saturday, March 16. Tipoff from Dickies Arena in Fort Worth Texas is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. eastern with the game to be aired on ESPN2.