Temple University Athletics
Dionte Christmas Named USBWA First Team All-District
3.10.09 | Men's Basketball
March 10, 2009
PHILADELPHIA - Temple University All-America candidate Dionte Christmas has been selected as an USWBA First Team All-District II honoree. It marks the second straight season that Christmas has earned the honor from the USBWA. He had previously been named NABC First Team All-District.
Joining Christmas on the first team are Talor Battle (Penn State), DeJuan Blair, Levance Fields and Sam Young of Pittsburgh, DeSean Butler of West Virginia, Dante Cunningham of Villanova, Jonny Flynn of Syracuse, Jeremy Hazell of Seton Hall and Ahmad Nivins of Saint Joseph's. Jamie Dixon of Pittsburgh was named District II Coach of the Year, while Blair earned Player of the Year honors.
Christmas, a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and the Lowe's Senior Class Award, is looking to become the only player in Atlantic 10 Conference history to lead the league in scoring three times. The two-time defending champion is tied with Saint Joseph's Ahmad Nivins for the conference scoring lead with a 19.2 average. Having arguably his best season, the 6-5 All-America candidate also is second in the league in three-pointers made (3.07 mpg.) and ranks second on the Owls in rebounding (6.1 rpg.) and assists (88), while topping the squad in steals (41).
He has won three A-10 Player of the Week awards this season to push his career total to 10, third most in league history. Only Xavier's David West (14.'00-03) and Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson (13, '01-04), both National Players of the Year as seniors, have earned more A-10 Player of the Week honors. He has earned four Big 5 Player of the Week honors this season with his career total standing at 10, and two ESPN.com National Player of the Week citations, the last coming following his 35-point outburst in the Owls' 88-72 upset of then #8 Tennessee (12/13).
The Philadelphia native (Philadelphia Lutheran Christian Academy) is on track to become just the fourth Temple player to score 2,000 career points. He currently ranks fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,958 points. He also needs just two three-pointers to break Lynn Greer's record of 305 career three-pointers made (1997-02). Christmas also is 32 points shy of becoming the first Owl player to record three consecutive 600-point seasons
Christmas and the Owls next play in the Atlantic 10 Conference Quarterfinals Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m.) against the winner of the Charlotte-Saint Joseph's opening round game.
