Temple University Athletics
Temple Takes On Duquesne In A-10 Final Tonight
3.14.09 | Men's Basketball
March 14, 2009
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ - Temple (21-11) advanced to the Atlantic 10 Conference Championship game for a league record 15th time with its 55-53 upset of top-seed and #19/19 Xavier Friday at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. The #4-seed Owls will take on #7 seed Duquesne (21-11), a 77-66 victor over #3 seed Dayton in the other semifinal. The teams will meet Saturday at 6:00 p.m. (ESPN2/1210 AM;WPHT).
The Owls, who won the regular season meeting between the teams (78-73) at the Palumbo Center on Feb. 15, have faced the Dukes four times in A-10 Championship play, winning each encounter. The teams last met in A-10 Tournament play in the opening round of the 1997 Championship. The other meetings came in three consecutive quarterfinals, 1988 through 1990.
Temple has had more success in Atlantic 10 Championship play than any other conference member. The Owls have won more games (48), played in more semifinal games (24) and championship games (15) 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 7-7 in A-10 Championship games, and is looking to become the first team to repeat as A-10 champions since the 2001 Owl team successfully defended its crown.
Notes: Dionte Christmas set a new school record for career three-pointers at Temple in the Xavier win and now has 307 in his four years. The previous mark of 305 made was held by Lynn Greer (1997-02). That also ties Romain Sato (Xavier, 2001-04);for the sixth most made in A-10 history. With his record-setting three-pointer, Christmas became the first Temple player to score 600 points in three consecutive seasons. Temple has now won 20 games in consecutive seasons for the first time since 1995-96 through 2000-01 when the program posted six straight 20 win campaigns. In all, the Owls have had 30 seasons with 20-or-more victories.
