Temple University Athletics
Temple To Host Saint Joseph's In An A-10/Big 5 Clash
1.8.07 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 8, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Temple returns home to the friendly confines of the Liacouras Center to take on Saint Joseph's Wednesday night (7:00 p.m./1210 AM) in an Atlantic 10 Conference/ Philadelphia Big 5 game. The Owls (6-7, 0-1), in the midst of a brutal five-game stretch, will be looking to snap a three-game skid while the Hawks (9-5, 2-0) enter play having won three straight.
The Owls dropped their conference opener at preseason A-10 favorite Xavier on Saturday, 76-68. In that game, senior forward Dion Dacons (7.1 ppg., 7.6 rpg.) posted his first career double-double, scoring a career-high 14 points and grabbing a game-high 10 rebounds. Senior guard Dustin Salisbery (16.7 ppg., 5.3 rpg.) led the Owls with 15 points and became the 42nd player in Temple history to score 1,000 career points.
Sophomore guard Dionte Christmas continues to lead the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 19.8 scoring average. Christmas, who has scored in double figures in every game, also leads the team in three-pointers made (34), percentage (.405) and free throw percentage (.884). Sophomore guard Semaj Inge (4.8 ppg.), who reached double-figure points (12) for the third time this season at Xavier, and sophomore center Sergio Olmos (4.0 ppg., 3.1 rpg.) round out the Temple starting five.
Juniors Mark Tyndale (12.6 ppg.), DaShone Kirkendoll (6.0 ppg.) and Chris Clark (2.8 ppg., 2.8 apg.) provide first-year head coach Fran Dunphy options off the bench.
Sophomore forward Ahmad Nivins (16.2 ppg., 7.2 rpg.) leads Phil Martelli's Saint Joseph's Hawks in scoring and rebounding. Juniors Rob Ferguson (12.0 ppg.) and Pat Calathes (11.8 ppg.) also score in double figures while freshmen Jawan Carter (7.5 ppg.) and Garrett Williamson (5.7 ppg.) round out the starting lineup.
Saint Joseph's has had Temple's number of late, winning eight of the last nine meetings. The Owls, however, snapped a seven-game skid in the series at the Liacouras Center last season, 57-44 on Feb. 14, and owns a 5-4 advantage in the building.
