Temple University Athletics
Temple Looks To Snap Skid With Home Game Against Charlotte
2.23.07 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 23, 2007
PHILADELPHIA - Temple will look to snap its three-game skid Saturday when its host Charlotte (2:00 p.m./CSTV Networks (Comcast Sportsnet locally). The Owls (11-15, 5-8 A-10) are one game behind the 49ers (13-13, 6-7) in the Atlantic 10 Conference standings with both teams fighting for positioning in the Conference Tournament that opens March 7 at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City.
Saturday is also a big day for Temple fans as the Fourth Annual Owl Club Auction will take place. A silent auction commences at noon and lasts throughout the Owls' game with Charlotte while a live auction will be held following the contest.
The Owls welcome a return to the friendly confines of the Liacouras Center where they have won their last three games and own an 8-4 record on the season. Temple averages 80.3 points at home and is shooting an illustrious 47.2 percent from the field (41.5% from 3-point range).
Sophomore Dionte Christmas continues to lead the A-10 in scoring (20.6 ppg.) despite being mired in a three-game shooting slump (11-43, 25.6%). Junior Mark Tyndale has picked up the slack, improving his average to 18.4 points per game, good for third in the conference. Tyndale has also passed Christmas for the A-10 scoring lead in conference games, averaging 20.5 points per game.
Senior Dustin Salisbery (17.1 ppg.) has been hot of late, scoring 20 points in four of the Owls' last five games. The 6-5 guard led Temple with 20 points in the Saint Joseph's game despite playing with five stitches in his shooting hand. The Cherry and White trio has combined for 56.1 points per game.
Charlotte makes its first visit to the Liacouras Center as a member of the Atlantic 10 Conference and its second overall. The 49ers lead the series with the Owls, 3-1, winning the last two meetings. Temple's only win in the series came in the only contest played at the Liacouras Center, a 91-80 win on Nov. 29, 2001.
Senior guard De'Angelo Alexander leads Charlotte and ranks fourth in the conference with an 18.1 scoring average. The 49ers lead the league in three-pointers made (8.69 pg.) with junior guard Leemire Goldwire (72, 2.77 pg.) and Alexander (68, 2.62 pg.) topping the team. Goldwire (13.8 ppg.) and senior forward E.J. Drayton (13.7 ppg./8.8 rpg.) also score in double figures for Charlotte.
