Temple University Athletics
Sunday, December 13
Liacouras Center
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Villanova
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Men's Basketball To Battle #3/3 Villanova At Liacouras Center Sunday
12.10.09 | Men's Basketball
Tickets still available for Big 5 showdown
Game Notes
PHILADELPHIA - One of the most storied rivalries in Philadelphia college basketball tips off for the 84th time when Temple hosts #3/3 Villanova on Sunday (3:00 p.m./CBS College Sports) at the Liacouras Center. The Owls enter the Philadelphia Big 5 battle riding their best start (7-2) since the 1994-95 campaign while the Wildcats, coming off a 2009 NCAA Final Four appearance, are a perfect 9-0. It is the first city-series game for Temple while Villanova (3-0) is looking to sweep its Big 5 slate for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Click here to purchase tickets!
Defense continues to be the bread-and-butter for fourth-year head coach Fran Dunphy's Owls. Through the first nine games of the season Temple is holding opponents to 52.9 points per game and ranks sixth nationally according to the latest NCAA statistics (12/6). The Owls were also ranked sixth in three-point percentage defense (.229), seventh in scoring defense and 24th in field goal percentage (.370). Temple has held seven of its nine opponents to 56 points or less.
Senior co-captain Ryan Brooks leads a balanced offensive attack with a 13.7 scoring average. Junior forward Lavoy Allen averages nearly a double-double (12.0 ppg., 9.4 rpg.) while sophomore guard Juan Fernandez (10.6 ppg.) rounds out the team's double-figure scorers. Senior co-captain Luis Guzman (5.0 ppg.), who is coming off his first double-figure scoring game (12 vs. Miami) in two seasons, tops the squad with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Sophomore Michael Eric (4.5 ppg.) returned to the starting lineup for the first time since injuring his knee in the Ball State game (11/17) in the team's 64-42 win at Miami Tuesday. Junior Craig Williams (6.0 ppg.), sophomore Ramone Moore (5.4 ppg.) and freshman Rahlir Jefferson (4.4 ppg.) provide depth off the bench.
Villanova, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Jay Wright, is coming off a 97-89 win over rival Saint Joseph's at The Palestra Wednesday night. Senior guard Scottie Reynolds, the Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 NCAA East Regional, leads a Villanova offensive attack with a 16.0 scoring average. Junior forward Antonio Pena has been a force inside, averaging a double-double (13.0 ppg., 10.2 rpg.). Junior guard Corey Fisher (12.9 ppg.), sophomore forward Taylor King (12.4 ppg.), a transfer from Duke, and junior guard Corey Stokes (10.4 ppg.) round out the double-figure scorers.
The Wildcats lead the series 43-40, and have won four straight and eight of the last 10 meetings with the Owls. Temple's last win in the series came on December 4, 2004, 53-52 at The Palestra.
PHILADELPHIA - One of the most storied rivalries in Philadelphia college basketball tips off for the 84th time when Temple hosts #3/3 Villanova on Sunday (3:00 p.m./CBS College Sports) at the Liacouras Center. The Owls enter the Philadelphia Big 5 battle riding their best start (7-2) since the 1994-95 campaign while the Wildcats, coming off a 2009 NCAA Final Four appearance, are a perfect 9-0. It is the first city-series game for Temple while Villanova (3-0) is looking to sweep its Big 5 slate for the fourth time in the last five seasons. Click here to purchase tickets!
Defense continues to be the bread-and-butter for fourth-year head coach Fran Dunphy's Owls. Through the first nine games of the season Temple is holding opponents to 52.9 points per game and ranks sixth nationally according to the latest NCAA statistics (12/6). The Owls were also ranked sixth in three-point percentage defense (.229), seventh in scoring defense and 24th in field goal percentage (.370). Temple has held seven of its nine opponents to 56 points or less.
Senior co-captain Ryan Brooks leads a balanced offensive attack with a 13.7 scoring average. Junior forward Lavoy Allen averages nearly a double-double (12.0 ppg., 9.4 rpg.) while sophomore guard Juan Fernandez (10.6 ppg.) rounds out the team's double-figure scorers. Senior co-captain Luis Guzman (5.0 ppg.), who is coming off his first double-figure scoring game (12 vs. Miami) in two seasons, tops the squad with a 2.2 assist-to-turnover ratio. Sophomore Michael Eric (4.5 ppg.) returned to the starting lineup for the first time since injuring his knee in the Ball State game (11/17) in the team's 64-42 win at Miami Tuesday. Junior Craig Williams (6.0 ppg.), sophomore Ramone Moore (5.4 ppg.) and freshman Rahlir Jefferson (4.4 ppg.) provide depth off the bench.
Villanova, under the direction of ninth-year head coach Jay Wright, is coming off a 97-89 win over rival Saint Joseph's at The Palestra Wednesday night. Senior guard Scottie Reynolds, the Most Outstanding Player at the 2009 NCAA East Regional, leads a Villanova offensive attack with a 16.0 scoring average. Junior forward Antonio Pena has been a force inside, averaging a double-double (13.0 ppg., 10.2 rpg.). Junior guard Corey Fisher (12.9 ppg.), sophomore forward Taylor King (12.4 ppg.), a transfer from Duke, and junior guard Corey Stokes (10.4 ppg.) round out the double-figure scorers.
The Wildcats lead the series 43-40, and have won four straight and eight of the last 10 meetings with the Owls. Temple's last win in the series came on December 4, 2004, 53-52 at The Palestra.
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Ep. 6: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Field Hockey's Peyton Rieger
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Ep. 5: Head Men's Golf Coach Brian Quinn
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