Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Looks To Extend Win Streak Thursday with Home A-10/Big 5 Clash With La Salle
2.24.09 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple men's basketball team brings its season-high five-game win streak to the Liacouras Center Thursday night for a Atlantic 10 Conference and Philadelphia Big 5 game against La Salle (7:00 p.m./OwlAccess/1210 AM WPHT). The Owls (17-9, 9-3 A-10, 1-1 Big 5) have won eight straight at home, their second longest win streak in the 11-years of the arena. La Salle (14-12, 5-7, 2-1) will be looking to snap a two-game skid and record three city-series wins for the first since the 1989-90 Explorer team posted a perfect 4-0 Big 5 mark.
Senior All-America candidate Dionte Christmas continues to lead the Owls, and ranks second in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a 19.5 scoring average. It has been the play of sophomore Lavoy Allen, however, that has propelled third-year coach Fran Dunphy's squad on its current streak. The reigning Big 5 Player of the Week, Allen has averaged a double-double (15.2 ppg., 10.8 rpg.) over the last five games. For the season the 6-9 forward is second on the Cherry and White in scoring (11.4 ppg.) while leading the team and ranking third in the A-10 with an 8.2 rebound average.
Junior guard Ryan Brooks (10.4 ppg.) also averages double figures for the Owls, who are currently tied for second place with Dayton (23-4, 9-3) and one-half game behind Xavier (22-5, 10-3) in the standings
La Salle, under the direction of fifth-year head coach Dr. John Giannini, is led by junior guard Rodney Green. A preseason third team all-conference performer, Green leads four Explorer double figure scorers with a 16.7 average. Classmates Kimmani Barrett (11.6 ppg.), Yves Mekongo Mbala (11.1 ppg., 6.4 rpg.) and Ruben Guillandeaux (10.5 ppg.) provide La Salle with a balanced attack.
Temple owns a 65-39 advantage in the series and has won all six meetings in the Liacouras Center. La Salle is one of three A-10 opponents that Temple plays home-and-home. Christmas led TU to a 75-68 win at Tom Gola Arena on January 11 with 30 points.
Temple University All-America candidate Dionte Christmas has been named as one of 30 finalists for the 2009 Naismith Trophy, presented by the Atlanta Tip-Off Club to the nation's top men's basketball player. Christmas is the lone representative from the Atlantic 10 Conference and the Philadelphia Big 5 among the 30 finalists.
