PHILADELPHIA — In a thrilling match at the Liacouras Center, Jamal Mashburn Jr. led the Temple Owls to a hard-fought 98-94 victory over East Carolina, scoring an impressive 32 points. The game extended into overtime after a tense finish in the second half.

Mashburn showcased his shooting skills, making 10 of 16 attempts from the floor, including 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, and converting 10 of 13 free throws. His performance was pivotal in helping the Owls, now sporting a record of 14 wins and 8 losses and 6-3 in the American Athletic Conference, secure this important win. Quante Berry also made a significant contribution, scoring 21 points with an 8 for 12 shooting effort, including 2 for 4 from three-point range, and 3 of 4 from the charity stripe. Zion Stanford added 19 points, shooting an efficient 8 of 11 from the field.

On the other side, the East Carolina Pirates (12-10, 4-5 AAC) were led by C.J. Walker, who had a standout performance with 33 points and seven boards. RJ Felton contributed considerably as well, finishing with 19 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals. Joran Riley added to their efforts with 13 points alongside four assists and two steals.

The game took a turn when Temple entered the halftime break trailing 33-26. However, the excitement intensified in the second half when Settle drilled a crucial game-tying three-pointer with just over a minute left, allowing the contest to move into overtime. In that extra period, Settle emerged as a key player, contributing seven points to help solidify the victory.

Looking ahead, Temple is set to face South Florida on the road this Thursday, while East Carolina will host Rice on Wednesday in what promises to be another exciting matchup.