Temple University Athletics
Temple Looks To Extend Win Streak With Valentine's Date At La Salle
2.13.07 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Temple (11-12, 5-5) travels its high-powered offense north on Broad Street to take on Atlantic 10 Conference and Philadelphia Big 5 rival La Salle (9-16, 2-9) Wednesday at Tom Gola Arena (7:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT). The Owls, who set a school-record for points in consecutive games (207) with Sunday's 98-89 win over former A-10 leader UMass, have now scored 80-or-more points in five straight games for the first time since 1982-83, former head coach John Chaney's first season at the helm.
The Owls, under the direction of first-year head coach Fran Dunphy, are currently on a four-game win streak, their longest since February 2004. During that stretch, the Cherry and White has averaged 94 points per game and has outscored opponents (70.5 ppg.) by 24.5 points per contest. The Owls, who have shot above 50 percent from the field the last six games, are shooting lights out during their win streak. TU has made 56.4 percent from the field, 47.8 percent from three-point range and 84.7 percent from the line over the last four games.
Sophomore Dionte Christmas, who ranks eighth in the nation in scoring (22.0 ppg.), paces the team with a 24.8 average over the win streak, hitting 36-of-59 (.610) from the field, 16-of-32 (.500) from three-point range and 11-of-11 from the line. Senior Dustin Salisbery (17.2 ppg.) and junior Mark Tyndale (17.1 ppg.) are both averaging 20 points per game in the team's win streak with Tyndale pulling down 11.3 rebounds during the stretch of games.
The Owls defeated La Salle, 89-64, at the Liacouras Center on Feb. 4 in the second game of its current win streak. Tyndale led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds while Salisbery and Christmas chipped in with 19 and 17 points, respectively.
The Explorers have struggled since conference play started, and have lost five straight and seven of their last eight. La Salle is led by junior Darnell Harris (14.3 ppg.) and freshman Rodney Green (13.7 ppg.). Freshman Kimmani Barrett (8.0 ppg.), who tied Green for team-high honors (12 points) in the first meeting with Temple, is the reigning A-10 Rookie of the Week.
Temple leads the all-time series, 62-38, and has won five of the last six meetings.
