Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball To Host Towson Thursday Night
12.4.07 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 4, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Temple will look to even its record Thursday night when the Owls host Towson at the Liacouras Center. After opening the season with three consecutive losses, the Cherry and White has won three of its last four games, including a heart-throbbing 90-88 victory over Ohio in the team's home opener last Thursday.
The Owls' one-two punch of junior Dionte Christmas and senior Mark Tyndale led the team's attack against the Bobcats. Christmas, who has topped the squad in scoring in all but one contest, scored 29 points while making seven-of-10 from behind the three-point line. Tyndale contributed a double-double with 26 points and 10 rebounds, while also dishing to fellow senior co-captain Chris Clark for the game-winning three-pointer with 1.9 seconds to play.
For the season, Christmas leads the Owls, and ranks third in the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring with a 20.6 average. Tyndale ranks 11th in the league, and second on the squad with a 15.9 average. Freshman Lavoy Allen (8.7 ppg.), who posted his fourth straight double figure scoring game (10 points) in the Ohio win, tops TU in rebounding (6.0 rpg.). Sophomore forward Ryan Brooks (8.0 ppg.) provides an offensive spark off the bench for second-year head coach Fran Dunphy's squad.
Towson, under the direction of fourth-year coach Pat Kennedy, is coming off a 70-63 loss at Delaware in the team's Colonial Athletic Association opener. College of Charleston transfer Junior Hairston, a 6-8 junior forward, leads the Tigers in scoring (15.0 ppg.), rebounding (12.7 rpg.). Sophomore forward Rodney Spruill (12.0 ppg.) and junior guard Rocky Coleman (10.0 ppg.) also average double digits.
Temple won the only meeting in the series, 75-70, last season at Towson (12/16). Christmas scored a game-high 29 points while Tyndale, making his first appearance after missing the first six games due to academic ineligibility, added 14 points and eight rebounds off the bench.
The Owls next host Villanova on Sunday (7:00 p.m./ESPNU/WPHT 1210 AM). The game marks the 10th Anniversary of the Liacouras Center.
