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Inconsistent Owls fall to Memphis in overtime

For Temple, it has been a season full of some positive flashes mixed with disappointing outings.

The Owls have been inconsistent to say the least, beating RPI top-10 teams like Clemson and Auburn, while also dropping games to La Salle and George Washington.

And even after snapping SMU’s 33-game home winning streak Wednesday night, Saturday brought more disappointment.

This time, it went right down to the wire in disheartening fashion.

Kareem Brewton, Jr. hit a 3-pointer with just 0.7 seconds remaining on the clock to lift Memphis to a 75-72 overtime win over Temple at the Liacouras Center, erasing a four-point lead the Owls held with 48 seconds left in the extra period.

The Owls dropped to 8-9 overall and an underwhelming 1-5 record in American Athletic Conference play, while the Tigers improved to 12-6 and 3-2 in The American.

Coach Fran Dunphy made his first change to the starting lineup this season and replaced Quinton Rose with freshman combo guard Nate Pierre-Louis, who turned in a career-best performance. Pierre-Louis led the way with a team-high 23 points on 9 of 17 shooting (3 of 8 from 3-point range), along with five rebounds and three steals.

During a stretch midway through the second half, Pierre-Louis went on his own personal 9-0 run. He reversed an eight-point Temple deficit to a one-point Owls advantage.

The individual run for Pierre-Louis came after Memphis went on a 13-0 run of its own. The Owls were held without a basket for a seven-minute stretch.

“Just hit shots,” Pierre-Louis said when asked what went right during his individual run.

Pierre-Louis said there was “team stuff” that led to his first career start. He didn’t find out that he was starting until Saturday morning, hours before tip-off.

When asked why Pierre-Louis started in place of Rose, Dunphy revealed that the sophomore wing was late to the team’s Saturday morning shootaround.

“Just a couple minutes, but don’t be late,” Dunphy said after the game.

Dunphy raved about Pierre-Louis’ 23-point showing, although he did not commit to keeping him in the starting lineup moving forward.

“Not necessarily,” Dunphy said when asked if Pierre-Louis will continue to start. “He was spectacular. He single-handedly brought us back.”

But Dunphy did leave Pierre-Louis in throughout all of overtime while Rose was seated on the bench. The Bishop Kearney (N.Y.) product shot just 3 of 13 from the field for 9 points in only 22 minutes.

“He (Rose) didn’t play great,” Dunphy said. “I thought we were better served with the other guys in the game.”

After shooting a combined 3 of 18 from the field in Temple’s previous two games, Shizz Alston did get back on track. He hit 6 of 17 shots (5 of 8 from 3-point range) for 19 points and tied a career high with seven assists.

The Owls were without sophomore big man Damion Moore, who sat on the bench in street clothes with a boot on his right foot. Dunphy said that Moore suffered a sprained ankle.

“Not sure how long he’s going to be out,” Dunphy said.

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