Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Celebrates 10 Years at Liacouras Center Sunday With Game Against #21/25 Villanova
12.7.07 | Men's Basketball
Dec. 7, 2007
Complete Release in PDF Format
PHILADELPHIA - Temple opens its Philadelphia Big 5 slate Sunday evening against #21/25 Villanova in a nationally-televised (ESPNU) game at the Liacouras Center. The game marks the 10th Anniversary of the venue's opening, and in honor of the historic night, the first 5,000 fans will receive Owl Rally Towels while the first 2,500 fans will be given commemorative tee-shirts. Former University President Dr. Peter Liacouras will toss up a ceremonial jump ball as the Owls attempt to not only end the Wildcats record-tying string of 12 consecutive Big 5 wins but also post their 100th victory in the building.
The Cherry and White are coming off a 69-46 win over Towson on Thursday night. It was the Owls' second straight win and fourth in their last five games. Junior guard Dionte Christmas led four TU double figure scorers with 16 points. He also grabbed a career-high-tying 11 rebounds. Senior Mark Tyndale posted his sixth career double-double, scoring 12 points while pulling down a season-high 14 boards. Freshman Lavoy Allen added a career-high 14 points, his fifth straight double-figure game, while sophomore Ryan Brooks scored 10 points off the bench.
Christmas (20.0 ppg.) and Tyndale (15.4 ppg.), the Owls' One-Two punch, lead second-year head coach Fran Dunphy's squad in scoring. Christmas also tops the team in assists (21) and three-pointers made (24) while Tyndale is the team leader in rebounding (6.9 rpg.) and steals (13).
Villanova, under the direction of seventh-year head coach Jay Wright, posted a dramatic 68-67 come-from-behind win over LSU Thursday at the Wachovia Center. The Wildcats trailed by 21 points with eight minutes to play before mounting the comeback. Sophomore guard Scottie Reynolds leads a balanced scoring attack, averaging 15.1 points while dishing a team-high 29 assists. Junior Shane Clark (11.5 ppg.), junior Dante Cunnningham (11.4 ppg.) and freshman Corey Fisher (10.2 ppg.) also average double figures.
Villanova leads the series 41-40, and has won the last two meetings. Temple's last win over Villanova came on December 4, 2004 at The Palestra. That 53-52 victory was the last game that the Wildcats lost in Big 5 competition.
