Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball To Take On Host Charleston Saturday Afternoon
11.15.08 | Men's Basketball
Nov. 15, 2008
CHARLESTON, SC - Temple will be looking to open its season at 2-0 for the first time since 2000-01 when that team, the last of five Elite Eight squads under Hall of Fame coach John Chaney, started with four straight wins. To do that, head coach Fran Dunphy's squad will need to get past the host Charleston Cougars at 2:00 p.m. Saturday in game televised in the Philadelphia area by Comcast SportsNet and heard on The Big Talker, 1210 AM WPHT.
Temple easily dispatched of East Tennessee State, 79-65, to win its first season-opener since 2005-06. The Owls were led by senior All-America candidate Dionte Christmas. The 6-5 guard delivered a strong all-around game, scoring a game-high 26 points, grabbing a career-high-tying 11 rebounds and dishing a team-high six assists.
Sophomore forward Lavoy Allen controlled the paint, pulling down a career-high 15 rebounds while scoring 14 points. It was just the second double-double of his young career. Junior Ryan Brooks, making his first start as an Owl, added 15 points while red-shirt freshman Ramone Moore came off the bench to contribute 11 points and four rebounds.
The Owls played without starting center Sergio Olmos, who injured his right ankle at practice Wednesday. He will be a game-time decision Saturday.
The College of Charleston christened its brand new arena with a 72-66 win over SIU-Edwardsville Friday. Andrew Goudelock scored 17 points and Jermaine Johnson added 16 points including the go-ahead bucket with 3:30 remaining lifting the Cougars to victory.
Temple and Charleston have only met once before, that coming last season at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off Classic. In that game, the Cougars rallied from a 25-point halftime deficit to win on a three-pointer by Dustin Scott at the buzzer, 79-76.
