Temple University Athletics
Owls Look For Two In A Row When They Host The Rams In Men's/Women's Doubleheader Saturday
1.18.07 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 18, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Temple will try and make it two straight wins when the Owls host the Rhode Island Rams in the first part of a men's/women's doubleheader Saturday afternoon. The men tip-off at 2:00 p.m. while the red-hot women's squad, winners of 10 straight, take the floor at 4:30 p.m. Both games can be heard on The Big Talker, 1210 AM WPHT.
The Owls (7-9, 1-3) snapped a five-game skid with an 85-79 win over visiting Saint Louis Wednesday. Three Temple players - Dustin Salisbery (25 points), Dionte Christmas (22) and Mark Tyndale (22) - topped the 20-point mark in the game. It was the second game this season that a trio of Owls scored 20 or more points (Lafayette game).
Christmas has retaken the Atlantic 10 scoring lead with a 19.4 average. The 6-5 sophomore guard also ranks second in free throw percentage (.907), and seventh in field goal percentage (.475) and steals (1.50 pg.). Senior guard Dustin Salisbery is second on the team and eighth in the conference in scoring (16.9 ppg.) while junior guard Mark Tyndale averages 15.2 points per game. Senior forward Dion Dacons (7.4 ppg.) is ninth in the league in rebounding with sophomore guard Semaj Inge (5.0 ppg.) rounding out head coach Fran Dunphy's undersized starting five.
Rhode Island (11-8, 4-1) enters play riding a two-game win streak and in first place in the A-10. Sixth-year head coach Jim Baron's Rams are led by junior forward Will Daniels (17.3 ppg./5.3 rpg.) Baron's son Jimmy, a sophomore guard, is second on the team in scoring (14.6 ppg.) but tops the conference in three-point field goals (3.22 pg.). Sophomore forward Kahiem Seawright also tallies in double figures (10.7 ppg.) while leading the Rams in rebounding (8.1 rpg.)
At halftime of the men's game, Temple will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its first 32-win team, the 1986-87 squad that posted a 32-4 record under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney. That Owl team, led by first team All-Atlantic 10 Conference performers Nate Blackwell and Tim Perry, advanced to as high as fifth in the Associated Press Poll. Blackwell and Chaney will be in attendance as will Derrick Brantley, Howard Evans, Tom Katsikis, Darrin Pearsall, Ramon Rivas, Mike Vreeswyk, Robert Jones (manager) and John DiSangro (manager).
