Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Penn In Big 5 Battle Wednesday Night
1.21.08 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple will look to make it three in a row when the Owls take the Liacouras Center floor Wednesday night against Philadelphia Big 5 rival Penn (7:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT/OwlAccess). The Cherry and White followed an impressive 78-59 upset of #20 Xavier by evening their record (8-8) Sunday with a thrilling 54-53 overtime win at Saint Louis.
The Owls will also be looking to secure second-year coach Fran Dunphy's first win over his former team. Dunphy, who guided the Quakers to 310 wins and nine NCAA Tournaments before moving to North Broad Street, dropped his first meeting with the Quakers last season, 76-74, at The Palestra. Penn's Mark Zoller made three free throws with 1.4 seconds remaining to provide the margin of victory.
Junior Dionte Christmas continues to lead the Owls, and the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring with a 20.6 average. Christmas, who also tops Temple in rebounding (6.4 rpg.) and three-pointers made (54), is joined by senior Mark Tyndale in the Owls' famed one-two punch. Tyndale ranks second on the squad in scoring (15.3 ppg.) and rebounding (5.9 rpg.) while leading the squad in assists (52) and steals (27). Sophomore Ryan Brooks (8.6 ppg.) comes off the bench to provide a spark on the offensive end while the inside play of junior Sergio Olmos and freshman Lavoy Allen, each with 22 blocks, has helped on the defensive end.
Penn, under the direction of second-year coach Glen Miller, have struggled to a 5-11 start in the 2007-08 season. Senior Brian Grandieri leads the Quakers in scoring (13.1 ppg.) and rebounding (5.5 rpg.) while tying for second with 34 assists. Freshman Tyler Bernardini also tops double figures in scoring (12.8 ppg.) while fellow freshman Harrison Gaines (5.1 ppg.) has dished a team-high 50 assists.
Penn is 0-3 in Big 5 play and will try to rebound from a devastating 82-42 loss to Saint Joseph's Saturday. Temple lost its only Big 5 game of the season, 101-93 to Villanova on December 9.
