Temple University Athletics
Owls Take On Hawks At The Palestra Thursday Night
2.21.07 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 21, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - If there is one Atlantic 10 Conference opponent that has had Temple's number over the past few years it is the Saint Joseph's Hawks. The Owls will look to change that when they take the floor Thursday night at The Palestra in a CSTV nationally-televised game (8:00 p.m.).
Temple needs a win as the Owls have dropped their last two, falling into a 10th place tie with Charlotte in the Atlantic 10 standings. SJU, winners of three straight, also needs to secure a win in order to maintain its hold on fourth place in the conference standings. The teams tangled at the Liacouras Center earlier in the season with the Hawks posting an 80-67 victory. That marked the second straight win in the series and the ninth in the last 10 contests.
Junior guard Mark Tyndale has been on fire of late for the Owls. The reigning A-10 Co-Player of the Week scored a career-high 33 points Saturday at George Washington. Tyndale, who has averaged 25 points over the last three games, is now tied with teammate Dionte Christmas for the A-10 lead in scoring in conference games only (20.7). Christmas, who has struggled the last two games - both losses, still leads Temple and the conference with a 21.0 average. Tyndale ranks third overall in scoring (18.4 ppg.) while senior Dustin Salisbery (5th, 17.0 ppg.) gives head coach Fran Dunphy three players ranked among the A-10's Top 5 scorers.
Senior Dion Dacons (7.3 ppg.) tops the team and ranks eighth in the league in rebounding (7.2 rpg.) while sophomore Semaj Inge (64 assists) and junior Chris Clark (69 assists) share the point guard duties.
Sophomore forward Ahmad Nivins (15.7 ppg./7.2 rpg.) leads a balanced Hawk attack. Juniors Pat Calathes (13.9 ppg/7.3 rpg.) and Rob Ferguson (11.9 ppg.) also score in double figures. Freshman Jawan Carter (7.5 ppg.) and Garrett Williamson (5.0 ppg.) round out SJU's starting five.
