Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Hosts Red-Hot Rhode Island Wednesday Night
2.11.08 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 11, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - Temple hosts Rhode Island in a key Atlantic 10 Conference men's basketball game Wednesday night (7:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT/OwlAccess) at the Liacouras Center. The Owls (12-10) are currently tied for fourth place in the A-10 with a 5-3 league mark while the Rams (20-4) are tied for second place, one-half game ahead with a 6-3 conference record.
Freshman forward Lavoy Allen notched his second career scoring high in three games, leading the Owls with 20 points on eight-of-nine shooting in an 80-70 overtime win over UMass Sunday afternoon. Allen, who also grabbed eight rebounds, now ranks third on the team in scoring (8.3 ppg.) and rebounding (5.8 rpg.).
Head coach Fran Dunphy's squad continues to be led by the play of its one-two punch of junior Dionte Christmas and senior Mark Tyndale. Christmas tops the Owls and ranks second in the A-10 in scoring with a 20.0 average. Tyndale, who also scored 20 points in the UMass win, tops the team in assists (77) and steals (35) while ranking second in scoring (15.7 ppg.). Senior co-captain Chris Clark has scored in double figures in three of the last four games and is averaging 10.1 points per game in conference play.
Rhode Island, under the direction of head coach Jim Baron, reached the 20-win mark in the fewest games in school history (24) with its 65-63 victory at Fordham Sunday. The Rams, who have won five of their last six, are led by senior forward Will Daniels. A 2007 all-conference performer, Daniels leads the Rams in scoring (18.1 ppg.) while ranking second in rebounding (7.0 rpg.). The coach's son, junior guard Jimmy Baron, is second on the team in scoring (15.7 ppg.) while topping the squad with 81 three-pointers. Senior guard Parfait Bitee (10.8 ppg.) runs the Rams' potent offense (81.2 ppg.), ranking second in the conference in assists (5.13 apg.).
The Owls lead the series 49-14, but the Rams have won three of the last five meetings, including a 85-77 decision at the Liacouras Center last season.
