Temple University Athletics
Temple University
20-10, 14-4
Tulane
10-21, 3-15
Champions!! Men’s Basketball Topples Tulane to Win Conference Regular Season Title Outright
3.6.16 | Men's Basketball
NEW ORLEANS – Picked sixth in the preseason coaches' poll, Temple put an exclamation point on its tremendous regular season with a 64-56 win at Tulane Sunday to capture the American Athletic Conference regular season title. The Owls finished the regular season with a 20-10 overall record and a 14-4 conference mark. Temple, tied with #24 SMU going into the day, wins the title outright as Cincinnati defeated the Mustangs (25-5, 13-5), 61-54.
It marks the 36th 20-win season for Temple, the fifth winningest program at the NCAA Division I level, and the eighth in Dunphy's 10-year tenure. It is also the first American Athletic Conference title in the Owls' three seasons in the league and the 11th regular season title for the program since the 1982-83 season.
Temple, winners of nine of its last 11 games, jumped all over the hosts early, taking a 22-5 lead in the first seven-plus minutes on the strength of four three-pointers, including two by Obi Enechionyia. Red hot the last 11 games (15.3 ppg.), the Owls' sophomore forward finished with a team-high 18 points. It is his seventh straight double figure game and 11th of the last 12 contests.
Playing on its Senior Day, Tulane did not go away quietly. The Green Wave cut the Owls lead early in the second half, closing to as many as five points, 45-40, with just under 15 minutes to play. The Owls built the margin back to a dozen, 56-44, courtesy of a 9-4 run over the next seven minutes.
The Owls kept the margin above double figures until the final three minutes. With Temple looking to take time off the clock, the Green Wave cut the margin to 59-53 with 37 seconds left on the strength of a 6-0 run capped by consecutive layups from senior Louis Dabney (xx points).
Senior Devin Coleman (1-2 FTs) and junior Josh Brown (2-2) then converted three free throws over the final 15 seconds to seal the victory. Brown finished with six points, nine rebounds and a game-high six assists for the Owls.
Seniors Quenton DeCosey and Jaylen Bond each had big games to help secure their first title. DeCosey topped double figures for the 27th time in 30 games with 15 points while grabbing five rebounds and dishing four assists. Bond secured his ninth double-double of the season, tallying 10 points to go along with his game and season high 16 rebounds.
Temple will open play Friday (Noon/ESPN2/1210 AM WPHT) in the quarterfinal round of the American Athletic Conference tournament against the winner of the first round game between #8-seed ECU and #9-seed USF.
Box Score (PDF) | Video Highlights l Trophy Presentation
