Temple University Athletics
Temple-Cincinnati Renew Rivalry Saturday In Atlantic City
12.7.06 | Men's Basketball
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Dec. 7, 2006
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - One of college basketball's top non-conference rivalries in the `90s takes on a new look Saturday when Temple and Cincinnati take the Boardwalk Hall court in Atlantic City at the Lenape Trail Classic. It is no longer John Chaney against Bob Huggins, but first year coaches Fran Dunphy and Mick Cronin guiding the Owls and Bearcats, respectively. The game, televised live by CN8, tips off at 4:00 p.m.
Cincinnati leads the series, 13-6, but Temple has won the last three meetings. The Owls defeated the top-ranked Bearcats, 77-69, at the Shoemaker Center on February 22, 2000, the last meeting between the programs. Cincinnati was ranked third when Temple posted a 64-54 win in a 1999 NCAA Tournament second round game, and fourth when the Cherry and White took home a 70-55 win on January 16, 1997, as part of the A-10/C-USA Challenge held in Cincinnati. In all, the teams met eight times in the `90s with each winning four times.
Dunphy and Cronin have their charges off to good starts. The Owls (3-2) have posted three straight wins, the last being a 76-71 victory over Western Michigan Tuesday night. Senior guard Dustin Salisbery (18.8 ppg.) scored a career-high 34 points in the win while sophomore guard Dionte Christmas (20.6 ppg.), the reigning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Week, scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half. Senior forward Dion Dacons, who leads the team with an 8.2 rebound average, grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds in the game.
The Bearcats are off to a 5-2 start with all seven contests coming in the friendly confines of Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center. UC dropped a tightly-contested 59-57 decision to UAB Saturday in its last contest. Junior forward John Williamson (15.9 ppg./7.4 rpg.) and freshman guard Deonta Vaughn (15.4 ppg./5.0 apg.) lead the Bearcats
