Thu Feb 13 01:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Memphis Tigers Roar Back to Defeat Temple Owls, Avenging Earlier Loss
**MEMPHIS, Tenn. —** The No. 17 Memphis Tigers overcame a halftime tie and a tough Temple Owls team to secure a 90-82 victory on Sunday, avenging their only American Athletic Conference loss of the season. PJ Haggerty led the Tigers with 20 points and seven assists, while Dain Dainja contributed 18 points and eight rebounds.
The game was a tightly contested affair throughout the first half, ending in a 35-35 tie. Both teams struggled with turnovers, with Memphis committing 11 and Temple 10. Temple’s hot shooting from beyond the arc (5-of-10) kept them in the game.
The turning point came early in the second half. After Temple briefly took the lead, Memphis tightened its defense, going on a 14-4 run. This surge proved decisive, as the Tigers controlled the game’s momentum for the remainder.
The absence of Temple’s leading scorer, Jamal Mashburn Jr. (lower body injury), significantly impacted the Owls’ offense. Aiden Tobiason led Temple’s scoring with 18 points, while Steve Settle added 17 and Quante Berry contributed 16. Despite a strong rebounding performance (24 rebounds), Temple couldn’t overcome Memphis’ second-half surge and superior offensive efficiency. The Tigers outrebounded the Owls 26-24, including 10 offensive rebounds.
Memphis improves to 20-4 overall and 10-1 in conference play, extending their winning streak to seven games. Temple falls to 14-10 and 6-5. The Owls host Tulsa on Wednesday, while Memphis travels to South Florida on Thursday.
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