Temple University Athletics
Temple Opens A-10 Championship Play Against La Salle Thursday
3.13.08 | Men's Basketball
March 13, 2008
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Second-seeded Temple (18-12) opens play 2008 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship against seventh-seeded La Salle (15-16) Thursday night at 6:30 p.m. (Comcast SportsNet/1210 AM WPHT) at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall. The Explorers defeated #10-seed Duquesne, 82-79, Wednesday in the tournament's opening round. Temple ended its regular season at La Salle with an 85-66 win on Saturday.
It is the ninth time in Temple's 26-year history in the conference that the Owls are the tournament's second seed. The Owls are 13-8 when playing as the two-seed, advancing to the A-10 Final four times (1985, 1994, 1996, 2003) and winning its first A-10 Tournament in 1985.
Temple has had more success in Atlantic 10 Championship play than any other conference member. The Owls have won more games (43), played in more semifinal games (22) and championship games (13) than any league member past or present. Temple has also won a record six Atlantic 10 Championships (2001, 2000, 1990, 1988, 1987 and 1985). Only three times, in 2002, 2004 and 2007, has Temple failed to win at least one game in the A-10 Championship.
The Owls enter the A-10 Championship on a four-game win streak, their longest of the season. It is only the sixth time Temple has entered A-10 Championship play with a win streak of four games or more. Twice (1988, 2001) the Owls have captured the A-10 Championship and advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight. The last time it happened, however, in 2002, the Owls entered Championship play on a five-game win streak only to lose to La Salle, 72-66, in the only A-10 Championship meeting between the programs.
Temple is a 22-2 in quarterfinal games of the A-10 Championship. The Owls' quarterfinal losses have come in 2002 (La Salle, 72-66) and 2004 (Richmond, 64-49). Thirty-two Owls have been named to the A-10 All-Tournament team, the last being Mardy Collins in 2006.
