All three American Athletic Conference teams in action on Wednesday collected wins. In its home opener, Temple knocked off Wisconsin, while Houston and Tulane enjoyed victories on “Education Days” over Fairfield and Southern, respectively.
Temple 59, Wisconsin 55
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Shizz Alston Jr. scored 22 points and hit four decisive free throws late to set a school record and lead Temple to a 59-55 victory over Wisconsin on Wednesday night.
Alston has hit 52 consecutive foul shots dating to last December. He hit two with 1:09 left to put Temple ahead 57-55, and two more to put it away with 4.6 seconds remaining as the Owls (5-2) won for the second time in four games.
Ethan Happ matched a season-high with 23 points, but was held scoreless over the final five minutes for the Badgers (4-6), who have dropped three of four.
Obi Enechionyia had 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, including two rejections of Happ inside over the final three minutes in Temple's home opener.
Alston hit two free throws, the second his 50th straight to surpass Lynn Greer's record set in March 2001, to snap a tie.
After an empty possession for each side, Wisconsin's Kobe King missed a straightaway 3-pointer before Alston finished it at the line.
Happ hit 11 of 19 shots, and added six rebounds as the Badgers continued their difficult early-season schedule by winning their second straight game. Khalil Iverson added nine points and six rebounds.
The Owls, who entered 3-0 against Power 5 teams with victories over Auburn, Clemson and South Carolina, got two buckets from Quinton Rose in an 8-0 run to go ahead 47-41 with 10:47 left.
Happ responded with three inside baskets in Wisconsin's ensuing 12-3 spurt. But Temple rallied to tie it with two minutes left after Enechionyia blocked Happ and Rose hit one free throw on the next possession.
Houston 88, Fairfield 66
HOUSTON (AP) -- Rob Gray scored 20 points, Corey Davis Jr. added 16 points with five 3-pointers and Houston beat Fairfield 88-66 on Wednesday.
Davis made four of his 3s in the first half and scored 13 points to help Houston build a 41-26 advantage. Gray had 12 points in the half as the Cougars shot 56 percent, including 6 of 8 3-pointers.
Devin Davis had 11 points and nine rebounds for Houston (7-1), which lost to Drexel 84-80 in the second game of the season. Breaon Brady and Wes VanBeck each added 10 points. Brady added eight rebounds and VanBeck made three of Houston's 11 3-pointers.
Houston has outrebounded its opponent in every game this season, including a 40-28 edge against Fairfield.
Tyler Nelson scored 17 points and Jesus Cruz added 16 for Fairfield (3-5). Jerome Segura chipped in 11.
In the only other series meeting, Houston legend Elvin Hayes had 48 points and 25 rebounds and George Reynolds added a triple-double in a 108-76 win over the Stags on Jan. 29, 1969.
Tulane 95, Southern 76
NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Jordan Cornish had 18 points and nine assists, Cameron Reynolds added 16 points, and Tulane beat Southern 95-76 on Wednesday.
Tulane closed the first half on an 18-0 run over the final 4:14 for a 51-29 lead. Reynolds had 12 points in the half, and Cornish and Samir Sehic each added 11. The Green Wave shot 57 percent from the floor, including 8 of 17 from distance.
Sehic finished with 15 points for Tulane (7-2). Melvin Frazier had his third double-double of the season with 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Ray Ona Embo also scored 10. The Green Wave had at least five scorers in double-figures for the third time this season.
Tulane had 20 assists -- its fourth 20-plus game of the season -- on 34 field goals.
Eddie Reese scored 18 points for Southern (2-6), and Jared Sam had 15 points and 10 rebounds.
The teams met for the eighth year in a row, with Tulane holding a 10-1 series record.