Temple University Athletics
Juan Fernandez Named Athlete Of The Month For December
1.6.10 | Men's Basketball
Temple guard helped lead Owls to national rankings and perfect month
PHILADELPHIA - Sophomore Juan Fernandez has been named the Owlsports.com Athlete of the Month for December. The 6-4 guard helped lead the Temple men's basketball team to its first perfect December (7-0) since 1987, and its first national ranking since November 2001.
The Argentine native averaged 17.3 points, 2.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game in the Owls' seven victories. He also made 47.1 percent of his field goal attempts (41-87), 50 percent from three-point range (21-42) and 94.7 percent (18-19) from the foul line.
Fernandez scored in double figures in six games, including a career-high 33 points in Temple's 75-65 upset of then #3/3 Villanova on Dec. 13. In that game, he made 11 of 15 shots, including seven-of-nine from long-range. He also topped the 20-point mark in two other games, scoring 21 in a 71-65 win at previously unbeaten Seton Hall (12/19) and 26 in the final game of the month, a 70-60 win at Northern Illinois (12/30).
For the season, Fernandez is averaging 14.1 points and 3.4 assists per game. He leads the team and ranks second in the conference in three-pointers made (33, 2.4 pg.) and third in three-point percentage (.429, 33-77).
