Temple University Athletics
Dionte Christmas Named Honorable Mention All-America
3.31.09 | Men's Basketball
March 31, 2009
Philadelphia - Temple University All-America candidate Dionte Christmas capped his stellar career by being named Honorable Mention All-America by the Associated Press. It marks the first Owl to earn All-America status since Mardy Collins also garnered Honorable Mention All-America as a senior in 2005-06.
Christmas, a finalist for the Naismith Trophy and the Lowe's Senior Class Award, led the Atlantic 10 Conference in scoring with a 19.5 average to become the only player in league history to accomplish the feat in three consecutive seasons. The two-time first team all-Atlantic 10 selection ended his brilliant career with 2,043 points to rank fourth on the Owls all-time scoring list. He also set a new school record for three-pointers in a season (107), eclipsing his own mark (104, 2007-08), and career (319), breaking Lynn Greer's record of 305 career three-pointers made (1997-02).
The Philadelphia native (Philadelphia Lutheran Christian Academy) also became the first Owl player to record three consecutive 600-point seasons, finishing the season with 662 points. That total stands as 13th on Temple's all-time single season points list.
He won three A-10 Player of the Week awards is his senior season, pushing 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).
