Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Saint Joseph's In Saturday Night Showdown
1.24.08 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 24, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple has won more games against Saint Joseph's (80) than any opponent in its 114 year history of intercollegiate basketball. The Owls, however, will be looking for just their second win against the Hawks in the last 13 meetings when the teams take the Liacouras Center floor Saturday night for a nationally-televised tilt (6:00 p.m./ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT).
Both teams are off to good starts with the Cherry and White (9-8, 2-1) riding a season-best three-game win streak following an 80-64 victory over Big 5 rival Penn Wednesday. SJU (11-5, 3-1) has won seven of its last eight games with its one loss during that span being on the road to Charlotte. The 49ers are the only A-10 team to defeat the Owls, also in Charlotte.
Temple, 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 reigning Big 5 Player of the Week, leads the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring with a 20.8 average. He also tops the Owls in rebounding (6.2 rpg.) and three-pointers made (59), while placing second in assists (47) and steals (24). Tyndale is the team leader in assists (58) and steals (28) while ranking second in scoring (15.4 ppg.) and rebounding (6.0 rpg.). Junior Sergio Olmos (4.9 ppg.) has become an inside presence, leading the team in blocks (25), one ahead of freshman forward Lavoy Allen (7.6 ppg., 5.4 rpg.) Sophomore Luis Guzman (5.7 ppg.) rounds out the starting five while sophomore Ryan Brooks (8.9 ppg.) has provided offense off the bench.
Saint Joseph's, under the direction of 13th year head coach Phil Martelli, sports a balanced offensive attack led by senior guard Pat Calathes (17.9 ppg., 8.3 rpg.). Junior center Ahmad Nivins (14.9. ppg., 7.2 rpg.) earned first team all-conference last season while Tasheed Carr (11.8 ppg.), Rob Ferguson (10.6 ppg.) and Darrin Govens (10.4 ppg.) also score in double figures.
Temple owns an 80-64 edge in the series, but Saint Joseph's has won four straight and 11 of the last 12. The last Owl win came on February 14, 2006, 57-44 at the Liacouras Center.
