PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — Two American Athletic Conference teams on the NCAA tournament bubble will look to bolster their resumes when Temple hosts UAB on Wednesday night at the Liacouras Center. The Owls (15-9) and Blazers (16-10) enter separated by just one game in the league standings, each coming off narrow home losses last Sunday that halted positive momentum. Temple fell 65-62 to North Texas, while UAB suffered a heartbreaking 55-54 defeat to Tulane. The matchup features a compelling contrast in backcourt and frontcourt strength. Temple is led by dynamic guard Derrian Ford, who is averaging 18.2 points over his last six games. He scored 20 in the loss to North Texas. UAB counters with forward Evan Chatman, a dominant force on the glass. Chatman is coming off a 12-point, 13-rebound performance against Tulane and has recorded double-digit rebounds in three of his last five contests, including a 17-rebound effort against Rice on Feb. 8. Both teams have shown resilience on the road this season. UAB has conference wins at Tulsa and North Texas, while Temple secured a key victory at East Carolina earlier this month. Protecting home court is critical for the Owls’ postseason hopes, as they navigate a tough closing stretch that includes road trips to Wichita State and Florida Atlantic after this game. For UAB, which visits Memphis next, establishing an inside presence through Chatman will be pivotal against a Temple defense that has held opponents under 70 points in four of its last six games. The Blazers will need to limit Ford’s penetration and scoring bursts to avoid a second consecutive last-possession loss. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.