Temple men’s basketball drops overtime decision at Charlotte as late regulation tie forces extra period

Charlotte pulls even in season series as Temple’s late lead dissolves in overtime

Temple’s men’s basketball team fell in overtime at Charlotte, 78–72, in an American Athletic Conference matchup played Wednesday afternoon at Halton Arena. The game, originally slated for a 7 p.m. tip, was moved to 3 p.m. amid forecasts for inclement weather.

The loss dropped Temple to 14–13 overall and 6–8 in conference play at the time of the game. Charlotte improved to 10–17 overall and 3–11 in the AAC. The result also ensured the teams split their regular-season meetings, after Temple had won the first matchup in Philadelphia in double overtime.

How the game unfolded

Neither side controlled the contest for long stretches. Charlotte built its largest lead at 10 points in the first half, going up 23–13 after Temple had trimmed an early deficit. Temple responded with a strong close to the half, retaking the advantage and carrying a 39–38 lead into the break.

The second half remained tight, with both teams trading short runs and one-possession leads. Temple held a 64–62 edge late after two free throws by sophomore guard Zion Stanford, but Charlotte answered with a 4–0 burst to move in front.

In the final minute of regulation, Temple briefly regained the lead before Charlotte tied the game with a dunk with just over 30 seconds remaining, forcing overtime. In the extra period, Charlotte opened with a three-pointer and used an 8–2 overtime run to create separation, closing out the win at the foul line.

Key performances and statistical notes

• Zion Stanford led all scorers with a career-high 26 points, shooting 9-of-15 from the field and 8-for-8 at the free-throw line.

• Nik Graves paced Charlotte with 23 points, a figure also reflected in national boxscore reporting of the game.

• Aiden Tobiason finished in double figures for Temple with 14 points, including 10 in the first half.

• Jamal Mashburn Jr., Temple’s leading scorer, did not play due to a lower-body injury and was listed as day-to-day.

Temple’s perimeter efficiency was a major separator: the Owls shot 3-of-14 from three-point range (21.4%), while Charlotte made 10-of-26 (38.5%). Rebounding also leaned to the 49ers, 35–28.

What it means in the AAC race

The overtime loss extended a pattern for Temple in conference play, with another game decided by single digits. With the regular season tightening, results in close finishes have carried added importance for positioning and potential tiebreakers, particularly against teams within the same AAC tier.

Final: Charlotte 78, Temple 72 (OT) — a split season series featuring overtime in both meetings.

Temple was scheduled to continue its road swing next at UAB, while Charlotte’s schedule called for a weekend bye before returning to conference play the following week.