Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Travels To Duquesne For Sunday Showdown
2.13.09 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 13, 2009
PITTSBURGH, PA - Fresh off a 61-59 road win over rival Saint Joseph's, the Temple men's basketball team heads to Pittsburgh for a Sunday showdown against upstart Duquesne (3:00 p.m./CBS College Sports/1210 AM WPHT). The Owls (14-9, 6-3 A-10) are in fourth place in the conference standings, a game ahead of the Dukes (15-8, 6-4). Duquesne owns a 9-3 record at the Palumbo Center, upsetting then #9/9 Xavier, 72-68, in its last game in the arena.
Senior All-America candidate Dionte Christmas posted his fourth double-double (19 points, 11 rebounds) to lead the Owls over the Hawks Thursday night. The 6-5 guard continues to lead the A-10 in scoring with a 20.0 average as he looks to become the first player in conference history to win three consecutive scoring titles. Senior guard Semaj Inge (7.3 ppg.), who leads the Owls with 82 assists, tallied 11 points for his sixth double-figure effort of the season.
Sophomore forward Lavoy Allen (10.7 ppg.) leads the Owls in rebounding (7.8 rpg.) and blocks (1.73 bpg.), ranking fourth and sixth in the A-10, respectively. Senior center Sergio Olmos (7.3 ppg.) added 10 points in the win over SJU for his sixth double-figure total of the season.
Duquesne is led by senior guard Aaron Jackson. A three-time A-10 Player of the Week, Jackson leads the team and ranks fourth in the conference with a 17.7 scoring average. Sophomore forwards Damian Saunders (13.6 ppg.) and Bill Clark (13.0 ppg.) also average double figures while freshman Eric Evans, a three-time league Rookie of the Week, brings a 9.6 scoring average off the bench.
The Dukes have won 10 of their last 13 and are one victory away from clinching their second consecutive winning season. The last time that occurred was 1979-80 through 1980-81.
Temple owns a 36-13 advantage in the series and has won 12 of the last 14 meetings. The Dukes, however, have won two of the last three in the Palumbo Center.
