The University of Memphis men’s basketball team’s road woes continued Thursday night against the Temple Owls.
Memphis fell to Temple 72-62 on the Owls’ Senior Night in Philadelphia. After the loss, the Tigers are now 1-8 on the road this season.
Once again, Memphis (16-14, 7-10 American Athletic Conference) missed another opportunity to win back-to-back games for the first time since January when it defeated Temple (19-10, 13-4 AAC) and South Florida in consecutive home games. Thursday’s loss also guarantees the Tigers will finish below .500 in conference play in the regular season for the first time since 2000.
However, the game had little meaning for Memphis, apart from spoiling Temple’s Senior Night, as it was locked into the No. 6 seed in next week’s AAC Tournament in Orlando following its 92-82 win versus Tulsa Sunday. However, the Owls clinched the No. 1 seed after their win against the Tigers.
While the Tigers fought back from a 12-point second half deficit to cut Temple’s to 60-57 with 4:58 remaining in the game, Memphis’ poor execution down the stretch saw the Owls outscore the Tigers 12-5 to close the game.
Both teams struggled to shoot efficiently from the field Thursday, Memphis (38 percent) and Temple (41 percent), which meant the Tigers could ill-afford to lose the turnover battle, which it did 12 to five. Memphis also lost the free-throw makes battle, one of its few strengths, 15-10.
Throughout the season, Memphis coach Josh Pastner said his team needed seniors Shaq Goodwin and Ricky Tarrant Jr. plus freshman Dedric Lawson to play well for the Tigers to win. Thursday saw three combine for 47 points, though all three players rarely clicked at the same time.
For example, Goodwin, who’s averaged more than 17 points and 11 rebounds in his five previous games against the Owls, had 14 of his 16 points in the first half, while Lawson had all 13 of his in the second half. Lawson finished with 13 points and 11 rebounds in the loss, which earned Lawson his 15th double-double of the season.
Memphis also got a combined four points from its other two starters Thursday night Trahson Burrell and Kedren Johnson, who made his second consecutive start. Though, the Tigers got a respectable off-the-bench performance from guard Avery Woodson who scored six points and grabbed five rebounds in the loss.
Temple, which had five players score in double figures in its win Thursday, was led by senior forward Jaylen Bond who had 15 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Owls’ guard Josh Brown, who hit a game-winning shot against Memphis in the 2014-15 season, nearly had a triple-double as he recorded 12 points, eight assists and seven rebounds.
Memphis ends its regular season against on the road East Carolina on its Senior Day 3 p.m. Sunday in Greenville, North Carolina. The game will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The Tigers will hope to avenge its 84-83 loss to the Pirates (12-18, 4-13), which at one point was considered the Tigers’ worst loss of the season, at FedExForum Jan. 24.
The University of Memphis lost its eighth road game of the season against Temple Thursday. The Tigers will end the regular season on the road against East Carolina Sunday.
