Temple University Athletics
Dionte Christmas Named Owlsports.com Athlete of the Month
1.5.08 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 5, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple University junior guard Dionte Christmas has been named Owlsports.com Athlete of the Month for the month of December. Christmas, who earned the last two Owlsports.com Athlete of the Week, picks up his third career Athlete of the Month honor.
Christmas averaged 21.4 points, 8.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 0.8 steals to help the Owls post a 3-2 record for the month. The 6-5 guard connected on 35-of-68 (.515) shots from the field and 17-40 (.425) from three-point range.
The Atlantic 10 Conference's leading scorer (20.9 ppg.) tied his season-high with 32 points against two-time defending NCAA champion Florida on December 29. He made 11-of-17 from the field (4-9 3-pt range) in that contest while also leading the team in rebounding (6) and tying for team honors in assists (3). Prior to that, he recorded his fourth career double-double when he scored 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in a win over Eastern Michigan (12/22).
The Philadelphia native posted double-doubles in consecutive games to start the month, tallying 16 points and 11 rebounds in a win over Towson on Dec. 6 and contributing 20 points, 11 rebounds and six assists in a loss to nationally-ranked Villanova (Dec. 9). He also led the Owls with 17 points in a win over Drexel on Dec. 15.
For the season he is averaging team highs of 20.9 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. He also ranks second on the squad with 33 assists and 15 steals while topping the Cherry and White with 38 three-pointers. He averages 37.2 minutes per game which leads the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Temple (6-6) hosts #8/9 Duke (10-1) on Wednesday, January 9 (7:00 p.m./ESPN/1210 AM) at the Wachovia Center.
