Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Saint Louis
Men's Basketball Hosts Saint Louis Sunday
1.7.11 | Men's Basketball
Gane Notes | Watch Live
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple men's basketball team (10-3, 1-0) hosts Saint Louis Sunday (2:00 p.m./OwlAccess) in its Atlantic 10 Conference home opener. Fresh off a 70-51 win over Fordham at the Izod center Wednesday, the Owls will look to open league play at 2-0 and post its eighth win in their last nine contests. Saint Louis (5-9, 0-1) will be looking to snap a four-game skid against Temple. The Billikens have also lost four in a row on the season.
Under the direction of fifth-year head coach Fran Dunphy, Temple has been the dominant team in the A-10 the past four seasons, winning the last three conference championships and owning a 37-12 league record since the 2008-09 campaign. Junior guard Ramone Moore continues to lead the Cherry and White with a 15.0 scoring average. Senior forward Lavoy Allen, a Naismith award candidate, averages 11.2 points while topping the squad in rebounding (6.8 rpg.). Junior guard Juan Fernandez has a team-high 51 assists while rounding out the Owls' double-figure scorers (11.0 ppg.)
Juniors Scootie Randall (8.4 ppg.) and Michael Eric (7.4 ppg.) complete the Temple starting five while sophomores Rahlir Jefferson (6.4 ppg.) and Khalif Wyatt (5.6 ppg.) provide an offensive spark off the bench.
Temple's defense has been the key to the team's start. The Owls lead the A-10 in scoring defense (59.1 ppg.) and field goal percentage defense (.382).
Saint Louis, under the direction of fourth-year head coach Rick Majerus, lost its top two returning scorers - juniors Kwamain Mitchell and Willie Reed - prior to the start of the season. Picked sixth in the preseason poll, the Billikens sport a balanced offense led by junior guard Kyle Cassidy (10.1 ppg.). Freshman Mike McCall (9.2 ppg.) and Jordair jett (9.0 ppg.) have made an immediate impact on the team.
Temple leads the all-time series between the teams, 4-1, and won last year's meeting at Chaifetz Arena, 57-51 (3/3).
