Temple University Athletics
Temple To Face Saint Joseph's In A-10 Quarterfinal Thursday
3.11.09 | Men's Basketball
March 11, 2009
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Temple (19-11) opens its Atlantic 10 title defense with the team it defeated in the 2008 A-10 Championship game, Saint Joseph's, Thursday afternoon (2:30 p.m./Comcast Sportsnet/1210 AM WPHT) in the quarterfinal round. It marks the fourth straight season that the rivals will meet in the A-10 Championship, and 11th overall. The Owls have won eight of the previous 10 meetings, but last year's 69-64 win at Boardwalk Hall ended a two-game skid to the Hawks in tournament play.
Saint Joseph's (17-14), the fifth seed, advanced to the quarterfinals on the strength of a 72-62 win over 12-seed Charlotte.
Temple , the fourth seed, has defeated SJU four straight times, its longest win streak in the series since running off 10 consecutive victories from 1996 through 2000. The Owls will also be looking to win three games against SJU in a season for the first time since the 1997-98 campaign. That season the Owls defeated the Hawks, 76-52, in the quarterfinals before losing to George Washington in the semifinal round. Temple is 3-0 against Saint Joseph's in quarterfinal action, winning in 1983, 1992 and 1998.
Temple has had more success in Atlantic 10 Championship play than any other conference member. The Owls have won more games (46), played in more semifinal games (23) and championship games (14) than any league member past or present. Temple has also won a record seven Atlantic 10 Championships (2008, 2001, 2000, 1990, 1988, 1987 and 1985). Only three times, in 2002, 2004 and 2007, has Temple failed to win at least one game in the A-10 Championship.
Temple is a 23-2 in quarterfinal games of the A-10 Championship.
