Temple University Athletics
Owls Take On Rival Hawks Thursday At The Paletsra
2.9.09 | Men's Basketball
Feb. 9, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Arguably the top two players in the Atlantic 10 Conference will be on display when the league's most played rivalry renews itself Thursday evening at the historic Palestra in front of a national television audience (ESPN2) when the Temple Owls (13-9, 5-3 A-10) take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks (14-8, 7-1). This will be the 146th meeting between the schools, which dates back to the 1901-02 season with the Owls owning an 80-65 advantage.
Last year, the rivals split the two regular season contests with each winning by a point on the opponent's floor. Temple won the rubber match, defeating the Hawks, 69-64, in the A-10 Championship game at Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall.
The top two scorers in the conference and the Philadelphia Big 5, Temple senior guard Dionte Christmas and SJU senior forward Ahmad Nivins, will be on the court together for the first time in 2008-09. Christmas, vying to become the first player to lead the A-10 in scoring for three straight seasons, tops the conference with a 20.0 average while also boasting a league-leading 3.23 three-pointers made per game. Nivins ranks first in the A-10 in rebounding (11.8 rpg.), field goal percentage (.656) while standing second in scoring (19.6 ppg.).
Sophomore forward Lavoy Allen has been a force of late for the Owls, both on the offensive (11.0 ppg., 7.8 rpg.) and defensive (1.7 bpg.) end, will have the unenviable task of trying to stop Nivins. Junior guard Ryan Brooks (10.6 ppg,), TU' top perimeter defender, will look to shut down SJU's top three-point threat, junior guard Darren Govens (13.5 ppg., 54 three-pointers).
Seniors Sergio Olmos (7.6 ppg., 1.5 bpg.) and Semaj Inge (7.1 ppg., 3.5 apg.) round out the Owls' starting five. Senior guard Tasheed Carr (13.5 ppg., 4.2 apg.), sophomore forward Idris Hilliard (9.1 ppg., 5.2 rpg.) and junior guard Garrett Williamson (5.5 ppg., 4,5 apg.) complete the Hawks' first five.
