Temple University Athletics
Temple To Celebrate Hooter The Owl's Birthday During UMass Game Sunday
2.8.08 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 8, 2008
PHILADELPHIA - The Atlantic 10 Conference's top two scorers will go head-to-head Sunday when Temple (11-10, 4-3 A-10) hosts Massachusetts (15-7, 4-4 A-10) in a conference showdown at the Liacouras Center. Senior forward Gary Forbes leads UMass and the A-10 in scoring with a 20.6 average while Temple junior guard Dionte Christmas, the conference's returning scoring champ, ranks second with a 20.1 average. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT. The game will not be televised, but can be viewed on the internet via a live website on OwlAccess.
Christmas, who has led the A-10 in scoring for most of the season, is coming off a forgettable four-of-15 shooting performance (14 points) in the Owls' 64-58 loss at Richmond Wednesday. Senior co-captain Chris Clark continues to have a hot hand for the Cherry and White. The reigning Philadelphia Big 5 co-Player of the Week set a new career high for the third straight game, tallying a team-high 18 points on six-of-12 three-point shooting against the Spiders. Clark is averaging 17 points over the last three games and ranks third on the Owls in scoring in league play with a 10.6 average.
Fellow co-captain, senior Mark Tyndale, has been head coach Fran Dunphy's best all-around player. The 6-5 guard ranks second on the squad in scoring (15.5 ppg.) and rebounding (6.3 rpg.) while topping the team in assists (73) and steals (34). Freshman forward Lavoy Allen (7.7 ppg., 5.7 rpg.) and junior center Sergio Olmos (4.5 ppg., 32 blocks) provide the Owls with a solid inside game.
Forbes, who also leads UMass in rebounding (7.3 ppg.), is coming off a 26 point night in the Minutemen's 78-76 home win Thursday over Rhode Island. Sophomore guard Ricky Harris ranks third in the A-10 in scoring (19.0 ppg.), providing the Minutemen with a formidable inside-outside scoring tandem. Junior guard Chris Lowe (12.5 ppg. 5.2 apg.) and senior forward Etienne Brower (11.7 ppg., 6.8 rpg.) also average double figures for head coach Travis Ford's squad.
Sunday is also Hooter the Owl's Birthday and the loveable Temple mascot will be joined by the Phillie Phanatic, Hip-Hop and numerous mascots from around the area. The first 5,000 kids 14 and under will receive a Mini Temple Owls Hoops Set - sponsored by the Philadelphia Federal Credit Union.
