Stanford’s Second-Chance Buzzer-Beating Jumper Sends Owls Past USF

Wednesday, February 26

Philadelphia, Pa.

7:00 P.M.

Temple University

15-14,7-9AAC

South Florida

13-16,6-10AAC

South Fla.

Temple

Photo by: Anthony Getz

Stanford’s Second-Chance Buzzer-Beating Jumper Sends Owls Past USF

2.26.25 | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – After his first attempt at a game-winning shot was blocked, sophomore guard Zion Stanford grabbed the rebound and sank a buzzer-beater from behind the backboard to lift the Temple University men's basketball team past South Florida, 73-71, on Wednesday night at the Liacouras Center.

The Owls (15-14, 7-9 AAC) ended a six-game losing streak in dramatic fashion, forcing a season split with the Bulls (13-16, 6-11 AAC).

Stanford, a Philadelphia native, finished with a game-high 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting and added eight rebounds. He continues to step up with three of Temple's four leading scorers—Jamal Mashburn Jr. (lower body), Steve Settle III (illness) and Quante Berry (finger)—sidelined against USF.

LET'S GO HOME!!!#Team129 pic.twitter.com/Vyw0SWpdCV
— Temple Men's Basketball (@TUMBBHoops) February 27, 2025

The Owls needed a win and Zion Stanford DELIVERED.

The undisputed @playabowlstu Play of the Game! #Team129 pic.twitter.com/zdkCMntFNO
— Temple Men's Basketball (@TUMBBHoops) February 27, 2025

HOW IT HAPPENED

Temple jumped out to an early 8-2 lead, but USF took its first edge at 14-13, and the teams traded buckets in a back-and-forth affair that featured 14 lead changes and seven ties. The Bulls built a 26-21 advantage with 7:39 left in the first half before Temple used a 10-4 run—capped by five straight points from Stanford—to reclaim a 31-30 lead.
USF responded with a 9-3 spurt to go up by five late in the period, and the Bulls led 39-36 at the break. In the second half, Temple rattled off consecutive points at the free-throw line and knocked down three of its first four shots, including six early points from Stanford, to seize a 44-39 advantage.
The teams continued to exchange the lead until a 6-0 run by Temple—keyed by three free throws from Aiden Tobiason and a 3-pointer from Matteo Picarelli—put the Owls up 62-59. Leading 66-62 with just over three minutes left, Temple saw USF respond with a 6-1 run to move ahead 68-67. After a Babatunde Durodola layup briefly put the Owls on top, USF answered with a jumper and a free throw to lead 71-69.
Stanford scored on a putback to tie it at 71. Moments later, Shane Dezonie came up with a steal, giving Temple the ball with 44 seconds to play. The Owls called a timeout, and after the initial shot by Stanford was off the mark, Tobiason grabbed the rebound. With time winding down, Stanford's first game-winning attempt was blocked by Kobe Knox, but Stanford collected the carom and lofted a quick jumper from behind the basket. As the buzzer sounded, the ball dropped through the net for a 73-71 Temple win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Over his last three games, Stanford is averaging 22.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.0 block while shooting 47.2 percent from the field.
Joining Stanford in double figures were Picarelli (11 points) and Tobiason (10). Picarelli reached double digits for the first time since USF's last trip to the Liacouras Center on Jan. 24, 2024.
Making his first career start, freshman Dillon Battie went 3-for-4 from the floor for nine points while adding four rebounds in 16 minutes. The Dallas native is now shooting 73.3 percent (22-for-30) this season.
Though he did not make a field goal, senior guard Dezonie contributed nine rebounds, three assists and two steals as the lone upperclassman in the starting lineup.
Freshman forward Babatunde Durodola dished out a season-high four assists to lead the Owls.
Temple, which opened the season 10-0 on its home floor, improved to 11-2 at the Liacouras Center.
The Owls improved to 11-5 when making at least 20 free throws and are now 9-3 when attempting 30 or more.
Temple's defense limited USF to 38.5 percent shooting (10-for-26) in the second half after the Bulls hit 58.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
Former Owl Jamille Reynolds led the Bulls with 17 points and six rebounds, while Jayden Reid and Jimmie Williams each provided 12 points off the bench.

UP NEXT

Temple has the weekend off before traveling to Tulsa on Tuesday, March 4, for its final road game of the regular season.
Tipoff at the Reynolds Center is set for 8 p.m. and will air on ESPN+.