Tulane drops home tilt to Temple, 72-68

NEW ORLEANS – Junior guard Teshaun Hightower scored a team-high 23 points, but the Tulane men’s basketball team dropped a 72-68 home decision to Temple on Wednesday night inside Avron B. Fogelman Arena in the Devlin Fieldhouse.

Tulane (10-14, 2-10 AAC) led for nearly the entire game and by as many as 13 points in the second half, but Temple (13-11, 5-7 AAC) closed the game on 19-4 scoring run to upend the Green Wave.

The Owls led for just 51 seconds in the contest and spoiled Tulane’s bid for a season sweep over Temple.

“I saw some things out there tonight that I really liked, and I saw some things that I really liked against Houston, but the thing I really like is that our kids are battling,” head coach Ron Hunter said. “I can’t tell you how much it’s eating me up inside right now.”

The Green Wave appeared to be in control, as they led by 64-53 with 7:14 to go in the game, but Temple responded with a furious rally to take the lead with less than 30 seconds in the game to secure the win.

“The kids are devastated right now, and I’m devastated for them, but I told them that this is just a blip on the radar screen,” Hunter said. “Going through something like this is never easy, and it’s never easy for the kids.”

Joining Hightower in double-figures were graduate transfers Christion Thompson and Nic Thomas, as they finished with 18 and 10 points, respectively.

Hightower’s 23 points marked the sixth time this season in which he has scored 20-or-more points. It also marked the 31st time in his career in which he has scored double-digit points.

Temple forward Quinton Rose led the way for the Owls, as he finished with 23 points.

Tulane continued its trend of taking care of the basketball, committing just seven turnovers. The Green Wave have totaled 10 or fewer turnovers in six games this season.

As a team, Tulane was outshot 41.4 to 39.1 percent from the floor.

Tulane returns to action on Sunday, as it heads to Wichita State. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m., and the game will be televised nationally on CBS Sports Network.

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