Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts #24/20 Xavier In A-10 Home Opener
1.13.08 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 13, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple will look to halt a three-game losing streak against one of the hottest teams in the Atlantic 10 Conference Wednesday Night when the Owls host #24/20 Xavier (7:00 p.m./CN8/1210 AM WPHT).
Temple (6-8, 0-1 in A-10), under the direction of second-year coach Fran Dunphy, continues to be led by its one-two punch of junior Dionte Christmas and senior Mark Tyndale. Christmas, the 2007 A-10 scoring leader, ranks second in the league with a 20.5 scoring average. The 6-5 guard, who also leads the Owls in rebounding (6.7 rpg.) and three-pointers (45), needs just two points to become the 44th Temple player to score 1,000 points for a career. Also a 6-5 guard, Tyndale ranks second on the team in scoring (15.4 ppg.) and rebounding (5.9 rpg.) while topping the squad in assists (40) and steals (23).
Xavier (14-3, 2-0), under the direction of fourth year head coach Sean Miller, has won six straight and sits atop the A-10 with a 2-0 league mark. The Muskeeters have posted non-conference wins over Indiana, Creighton, Cincinnati, Kansas State, Virginia and Auburn to help lead a resurgence in the Atlantic 10. Junior swingman B.J. Raymond leads a balanced Xavier attack that boasts six double-figure scorers with a 12.7 scoring average. Senior point guard Drew Lavender averages 12.4 points while dishing a team-high 86 assists.
The Musketeers average 80.4 points per game and outscore their opponents by an A-10 high 18.4 margin. Xavier also cleans the glass with a conference best rebound margin of +7.3. Temple leads the series, 9-8, and have won two of the last three meetings. The Musketeers won last year's game, 76-68, in Cincinnati.
