Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Opens ESPNU Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic With Providence Thursday
11.13.07 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2007
SAN JUAN, PR - Temple makes its first appearance in a three-game in-season tournament in over 30 years when it takes on Big East Conference opponent Providence Thursday at 2:30 p.m. (EST) in the opening round of the O'Reilly ESPNU Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic in San Juan. The game will be televised live by ESPNU and broadcast on The Big Talker, 1210 AM WPHT.
The Owls, under the direction of second-year head coach Fran Dunphy, are coming off a season-opening 80-63 loss at #7/7 Tennessee on November 9. Junior guard Dionte Christmas (12 points) and senior guard Mark Tyndale (11) led the Owls in scoring while freshman forward Lavoy Allen made his debut, tallying eight points and grabbing a game-high nine rebounds. Allen, who also led Temple with three assists, was limited to just 23 minutes on the floor due to foul trouble.
Sophomore guard Luis Guzman came off the bench to contribute career highs in points (9) and minutes (18). Sophomore forward Ryan Brooks added eight points. Temple turned the ball over an uncharacteristic 23 times and made just 39 percent of its shots from the field.
Providence, under the direction of 10th year head coach Tim Welsh, opens its season with its first contest against Temple since a 65-59 win over the Owls on December 29, 1983. The Friars, who finished 18-13 and advanced to the 2007 NIT, are picked eighth in the Big East Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll. Junior swingman Geoffrey McDermott, a preseason all-conference selection, leads the squad. Last season he averaged 9.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and and 5.13 assists per game. Junior guard Weyinmi Efejuku is the team's leading returning scorer at 14.1 points per game while junior transfer Jeff Xavier, a 6-1 guard, averaged 16.6 points per game at Manhattan in 2005-06.
The Owls will play either Arkansas or Charleston Friday (5:30/8:00 PM EST) with the tourney concluding on Sunday.
