Temple Triumphs Over North Texas, 66-61

PHILADELPHIA — Temple University pulled off a surprising 66-61 victory over North Texas on Sunday, concluding the regular basketball season with an unexpected twist.
Both teams will now shift their focus to the American Athletic Conference Tournament. Temple, seeded ninth, will kick off their tournament play in the second round on Thursday, while North Texas, holding the No. 2 seed, will join the action in the quarterfinals on Friday.
Leading Temple’s impressive effort was Steve Settle, who notched 15 points and grabbed five rebounds for the Owls, whose record stands at 17-14 overall and 9-9 within the conference. Alongside Settle, Zion Stanford made a strong contribution with 14 points and seven rebounds. Elijah Gray also had a productive outing, scoring 12 points by shooting 4 for 6 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line.
For North Texas, Atin Wright was the top scorer with 18 points, supported by Brenen Lorient who contributed 15 points, and Jasper Floyd who chipped in 10 points and four assists. Unfortunately for the Mean Green, who now hold a record of 23-7 overall and 14-4 in the conference, their loss halted a notable seven-game winning streak.
The game saw Temple enter halftime with a solid 34-24 lead over their opponents. Matteo Picarelli added nine points during the first half, while Wright was instrumental in closing out the game by scoring the Owls’ final six points, securing their hard-fought victory with a five-point margin.
This storyline showcases the dynamic performances as both teams gear up for the thrills and challenges of the conference tournament ahead.