Temple University Athletics
MEN'S BAKETBALL TO HOST GEORGE WASHINGTON IN A-10 OPENER
1.3.03 | Men's Basketball
Sunday's contest will be televised on Comcast SportsNet. It is one of at least 21 Temple men's basketball games this season to be televised.
Temple and George Washington have met 55 times on the hardwood since the 1916-17 season, with the Owls holding a 44-11 advantage in victories, including six straight. Since the beginning of the 1999-00 campaign, Temple has scored 90-plus points only five times, with three coming against the Colonials. TU defeated GW 98-67 on March 4, 2000, won 91-58 on Feb. 8, 2001 and 92-88 on March 3, 2001. The other two times were against the Fordham Rams on Jan. 23, 2001 and Jan. 30, 2002.
Temple is coming off a 80-67 loss to Big Ten member Wisconsin on Thursday at the Liacouras Center in a game in which the Badgers set a floor record for points scored by an opponent. Temple shot reasonably well, connecting on 25-of-57 shots from the field to finish with a 43.9 field-goal percentage, more than six points higher than its season average. But the Owl defense struggled, as Wisconsin (9-2) made 24-of-41 attempts from the field (58.5 percent), including a level 50 percent from the three-point arc (9-18). What's more, the Badgers dominated in the paint, reaching the foul line 27 times to Temple's eight and converting 23 of those chances. The visitors also commanded the boards, finishing with a 31-22 advantage in total rebounds.
George Washington is coming off a 81-75 loss at Patriot League member American on Thursday, despite the fact that the Colonials shot 56.9 percent (29-51) from the field. Three of GW's other four defeats have come to ranked opponents, losing at No. 14 UConn, 67-55; versus No. 2 Texas, 100-92 and versus No. 9 Maryland, 93-82. Chris Monroe leads the Colonials in the scoring column, averaging 20.8 points per game.
