Owls Soar to Memphis for Wednesday Night Tilt

Note: The game will be played as scheduled, with Temple and Memphis set to tip off at the originally announced time of 8 p.m. ET.

Game Info
Wednesday, Jan. 14 | 8 p.m. ET
Location: FedExForum | Memphis, Tenn.
TV: ESPN+ | Listen: OwlSports.com/listen | Live Stats | Game Notes

Twitter/X: @TUMBBHoops | Instagram: @tumbbhoops

Opening Tip

After extending its winning streak to seven games with a midweek victory over East Carolina, the Temple University men's basketball team hits the road to face Memphis on Wednesday night at FedExForum.
The Owls (11-5, 3-0 American) look to take down the Tigers (7-8, 2-1 American) for the second time in the last three meetings and are seeking their first win at FedExForum since the 2016-17 season.
Temple earned its seventh consecutive victory Wednesday night with a 75-67 triumph over East Carolina at the Liacouras Center. The win extended Temple's winning streak to seven, its longest since the 2014-15 season, and improved the Owls to 3-0 in conference play for the first time since the 2022-23 campaign.
Gavin Griffiths set a season high in points for the second straight game, leading Temple with 24 points on 9-for-16 shooting, including 5-for-7 from 3-point range. The Simsbury, Conn., native added six rebounds, two assists, four blocks and two steals, earning American Conference honorable mention recognition.
With four blocks, Griffiths became the first Owl to record at least four blocks in consecutive games since Obi Enechionyia in the 2016-17 season. Over his last two contests, Griffiths is averaging 23.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 5.5 blocks and 2.0 steals while shooting 48.6 percent (17-for-35) from the floor and 52.4 percent (11-for-21) from 3-point range.
Along with Griffiths, Derrian Ford scored 18 points after a one-game absence, while Jordan Mason added 11, giving Temple three players in double figures.
During the seven-game winning streak, Ford (18.2), Aiden Tobiason (15.2), Mason (14.1) and Griffiths (14.1) have all averaged double figures while shooting above 42 percent from the floor. Temple is shooting 48.1 percent as a team and 41.5 percent from 3-point range during the span that began Dec. 9.
Defensively, the Owls have limited opponents to 40.5 percent shooting overall and just 26.2 percent from 3-point range. Temple has averaged 79.7 points per game during the streak while holding opponents to 63.6, winning by an average margin of 16.1 points.
Temple seeks its first eight-game winning streak since the 2011-12 season, when the Owls posted 11 consecutive victories. Guided by then-head coach Fran Dunphy, Temple defeated La Salle (76-70), Maryland (73-60), Charlotte (79-57), Saint Joseph's (78-60), Fordham (78-60), Rhode Island (73-56), George Washington (79-72), Xavier (85-72), St. Bonaventure (76-70), Duquesne (78-59) and La Salle (80-79 OT) before falling to Saint Joseph's at Hagan Arena.

Scouting Memphis

The Tigers enter the contest with a 7-8 overall record and a 2-1 mark in American Conference play, suffering their first conference loss in an 89-78 setback at Florida Atlantic on Sunday. Memphis is battle-tested, facing a challenging nonconference slate that included No. 20 Auburn, Ole Miss, No. 1 Purdue, Wake Forest, Baylor, No. 11 Louisville, No. 13 Vanderbilt and Mississippi State, among others.
Memphis leads the league in field goal percentage defense (41.5 percent) and bench points per game (33.5) while also ranking in the top three in 3-point percentage defense (2nd, 30.6 percent), steals per game (3rd, 9.5) and turnovers forced per game (14.1).
Dug McDaniel leads the Tigers in scoring (14.3 ppg), assists (5.0, second in the American) and steals (2.4, first in the American), while Julius Thedford (5.2 rpg) paces the team on the glass. After McDaniel, Memphis is balanced offensively, featuring six players averaging between 7.0 and 9.0 points per game.
The Owls and Tigers meet for the 29th time Wednesday, with Memphis holding a 16-12 advantage in the series. Temple defeated No. 18 Memphis, 88-81, at the Liacouras Center earlier this season, while the Tigers earned a 90-82 win at FedExForum in the most recent meeting. Temple looks to snap a five-game skid at FedExForum, last earning a 74-62 victory during the 2016-17 season.

Owls Soar to Memphis for Wednesday Night Tilt

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Players Mentioned

Derrian Ford

Gavin Griffiths

Jordan Mason

Aiden Tobiason

Temple University Athletics

Owls Soar to Memphis for Wednesday Night Tilt

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Players Mentioned

Derrian Ford

Gavin Griffiths

Jordan Mason

Aiden Tobiason

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