Temple Opens AAC Play with Gritty Win over Wichita State, Extending Home Win Streak to Six

PHILADELPHIA — Temple men's basketball kicked off its American Athletic Conference campaign with a hard-fought 91-85 victory over Wichita State Friday night at the Liacouras Center. Led by a standout performance from guard Jamal Mashburn Jr., who poured in 24 points, the Owls overcame a sluggish start and closed with poise to improve to 9-5 overall and 1-0 in AAC play. With the win, Temple remains undefeated at home this season (6-0).

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Early Setback, Swift Recovery

Wichita State came out swinging, building an 11-2 lead in the opening minutes as Temple struggled to find rhythm. But the Owls quickly recalibrated, responding with a 10-0 run capped by a three-pointer from Elijah Gray that flipped the momentum and put the home team ahead 12-11. From there, Temple maintained control for most of the first half before a late push by the Shockers earned them a slim 39-37 lead at intermission.

Mashburn Jr. led all scorers at halftime with 13 points, while Wichita State’s Xavier Bell tallied 10 in a tightly contested opening frame.

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Second Half Surge

The second half evolved into a back-and-forth battle, with both squads trading buckets and energy swings. Wichita State briefly regained control with a 66-62 lead following a highlight-reel dunk by Harlond Beverly with just over eight minutes remaining.

That’s when Temple’s resilience kicked in.

Mashburn Jr. reignited the offense with a mid-range jumper that sparked a pivotal 14-3 run over a blistering three-minute stretch. The sequence, featuring back-to-back threes from Steve Settle III and Quante Berry, shifted the momentum firmly in Temple's favor.

Zion Stanford added to the surge with another clutch triple, and Mashburn Jr. capped the burst with a smooth finish at the rim, extending the lead to 81-71 with 3:40 remaining. From there, the Owls leaned on late-game execution, knocking down 10-of-12 free throws in the final 2:39 to close out the win.

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Balanced Attack and Bench Depth

Temple’s scoring depth was instrumental in the win, with five players reaching double figures. Beyond Mashburn Jr.’s game-high 24, the Owls received major contributions from Elijah Gray (15 points off the bench), Settle III and Berry (14 apiece), and Shane Dezonie (10 points, 6-of-8 from the stripe).

The Owls also held a clear advantage in bench production, outscoring Wichita State's reserves 30-17, largely due to Gray’s impact in the second unit.

Temple’s free-throw efficiency — 24-of-31 for 77.4% — was a key difference-maker down the stretch, especially compared to Wichita State’s 57.1% clip from the line (16-of-28).

For the Shockers, guard Justin Hill led the charge with 25 points, one of four Wichita State players to notch double figures in a valiant but ultimately unsuccessful road effort.

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Looking Ahead

Temple now shifts focus to a two-game AAC road swing, beginning Wednesday, January 8, at East Carolina. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. ET and will be streamed on ESPN+.

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Final Thoughts

This win may prove to be more than just a conference opener — it’s an early statement that Temple’s veteran-led roster, bolstered by clutch shot-making and balanced scoring, is ready to make noise in the American. With Mashburn Jr. setting the tone and a supporting cast delivering at key moments, the Owls are building a formidable home identity and a team that thrives under pressure.

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Box Score Highlights:

Player (Temple)PointsNotesJamal Mashburn Jr.24Game-high; ignited key second-half runElijah Gray15Bench spark; crucial first-half tripleSteve Settle III14Key late three; physical presenceQuante Berry14Big-time second-half three-pointerShane Dezonie10Steady at the line (6-8 FT)

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Team Stats:

• Temple FT %: 77.4 (24-31)
• Wichita State FT %: 57.1 (16-28)
• Temple Bench Points: 30
• Wichita State Bench Points: 17