For the first time since Feb. 20, 2000, the Temple men's basketball team upset the AP No. 1 team as the Owls topped Houston, 56-55, Sunday afternoon at the Fertitta Center. With the win, Temple improves to 12-9 (6-2 AAC) and snapped a nine-game Cougar (18-2, 6-1 AAC) winning streak.
Damian Dunn led both teams with 16 points, while Zach Hicks added 12. Jamal Shead's 13 points led Houston's offensive effort.
First Half
• Temple took it to the nation's top-ranked team from the opening tip. The teams battled throughout the first 20 minutes with the Owls leading for the majority of the frame.
• The Owls scored six straight in a 10-2 run to take their largest lead of the frame, 18-12, on two Dunn free throws with just over 10 minutes on the clock.
• Temple maintained the lead until the Cougars rattled off seven straight to take a 25-24 lead on a Jarace Walker layup with 3:23 to play.
• Houston extended its lead to three, 30-27, on a Shead basket before Dunn drained a three for the final points of the half.
• It was balanced scoring for both teams with eight Cougars scoring in the frame led by Shead (8 points). Dunn led all scorers with 10 points as seven Owls scored in the half.
Second Half
• The teams continued the same intense pace with neither team able to gain separation over the first 12 minutes until the Owls scored six straight, a three-point play by Nick Jourdain and a three by Hicks, to open up a 53-47 lead.
• Two more free throws by Jourdain at the 6:37 mark gave the Owls their biggest lead, 55-48.
• Houston answered with seven unanswered points to tie the game at 55 on a three-point play by J'wan Roberts with 1:30 to play.
• Dunn then made one of two free throws to give the Owls a 56-55 lead with 1:06 on the clock.
• Shead missed a three-pointer on the ensuing possession and the Owls came down with Dunn missing a jumper in the lane with eight seconds left.
• After a review to see if the ball hit the rim, Houston was awarded the ball on a shot clock violation with 8.3 seconds left.
• Kur Jongkuch and Jourdain made blocks on the Cougars in the final seconds with the ball going out of bounds with 1.2 seconds to play.
• Houston inbounded but a final shot by Tramon Mark hit the front of the rim and bounced off to preserve the Owls upset win.
Statistically Speaking
• Houston, who averages 76.2 points per game, was held to under 60 points for just the third time this season.
• Jahlil White posted a team-leading 10 boards, while Jourdain and Jongkuch both recorded two blocks.
Next Up
• Temple hosts South Florida on Wednesday night (7 pm/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT).
