No. 1 Houston, Memphis and Temple all earned victories in American Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Thursday, March 2.

Thursday, March 2, 2023
Temple 57, UCF 55 - Box Score
No. 1 Houston 83, Wichita State 66 - Box Score
Memphis 81, SMU 62 - Box Score

Temple 57, UCF 55 - Box Score
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Jourdain hit the game-winning layup with one second remaining as Temple knocked off UCF 57-55 on Thursday night.

Damian Dunn scored 11 points and also contributed six rebounds for the Owls (16-14, 10-7 American Athletic Conference). Jourdain scored 10 points and added nine rebounds. Zach Hicks was 3 of 13 shooting (2 for 10 from distance) to finish with 10 points.

The Knights (16-13, 7-10) were led by CJ Kelly, who recorded 19 points. Taylor Hendricks added 16 points, seven rebounds and two steals for UCF. Michael Durr also had 11 points.

Temple went into halftime ahead of UCF 22-20. Hysier Miller scored six points in the half. Dunn scored 11 second-half points for Temple.

No. 1 Houston 83, Wichita State 66 - Box Score
HOUSTON (AP) — Jamal Shead scored a career-high 25 points, Marcus Sasser added 22 and No. 1 Houston defeated Wichita State 83-66 on Thursday night.

Shead shot 10 of 17 from the field. The junior was 4 of 8 on 3-pointers.

Sasser tied the school career record for most 3-pointers set by Robert McKiver with 261. He also scored at least 20 points for the sixth straight game, and chants of “Sasser” filled the Fertitta Center after it was over.

Jarace Walker had 13 points and nine rebounds for Houston (28-2, 16-1 American Athletic Conference). The Cougars shot 47%, including 9 of 25 on 3s, in winning their 10th straight game.

Houston forced 20 turnovers, which it converted into 17 points.

Craig Porter Jr. had 17 points and seven rebounds, Jaron Pierre Jr. added 16 points and Kenny Pohto had 12 for Wichita State (15-14, 8-9).

The Shockers lost despite shooting 65% (24 of 37) from the field. They were worse at the foul line, making only 12 of 21 (57%).

Leading 37-35, Houston extended it to a 12-point lead on a dunk by Roberts, capping a 13-3 run with 13½ minutes left.

Wichita State countered with an 8-0 burst to close within four on two free throws by James Rojas with 11 minutes left, but got no closer.

The Shockers scored 10 straight points to open a 22-14 lead midway through the first half. Houston led 33-31 at the break.

Memphis 81, SMU 62 - Box Score
DALLAS (AP) — Kendric Davis totaled 23 points and 10 assists to propel Memphis to an 81-62 victory over SMU on Thursday night.

Davis added four steals for the Tigers (23-7, 13-4 American Athletic Conference). Damaria Franklin hit three 3-pointers and scored 15. DeAndre Williams had 13 points.

Zach Nutall led the Mustangs (10-20, 5-12) with 15 points, six rebounds and two blocks. Samuell Williamson added 14 points, 11 rebounds and three steals. Zhuric Phelps had 10 points.

Memphis took the lead with 13:09 left in the first half and never looked back. The score was 50-37 at halftime.