Temple University Athletics
Men's Basketball Takes on Wichita State Sunday
11.19.11 | Men's Basketball
Owls-Shockers battlle for third place in 5-hour Energy Puerto Rico Tip-Off
SAN JUAN - Temple (2-1) will look to rebound from its first loss of the season when it takes on Wichita State (2-1) in the third place game of the 5-hour Energy Puerto Rico Tip-Off Sunday evening (5:30/ESPN2/1210 AM WPHT). The Owls lost to Purdue in the semifinals, 85-77, while the Shockers fell to #15/16 Alabama, 70-60.
The Owls, under the direction of sixth-year head coach Fran Dunphy, are led by the backcourt combination of seniors Ramone Moore and Juan Fernandez. Both preseason first team all-Atlantic 10 Conference selections, Moore exploded for 27 points in the Owls' loss to Purdue and leads the squad with a 19.0 scoring average. Fernandez, who like Moore had topped double-figures in each game, averages 15.0 points while leading the team in assists (4.3 apg.).
JUnior Khalif Wyatt, the 2011 A-10 Sixth Man of the Year, is averaging 11.5 points and a team-high 3.8 steals per game as a starter this season. Graduate Student Michael Eric (9.3 ppg.), who posted his second double-double (12 points, career-high 15 rebounds) against Western Michigan, tops the Owls in rebounding (11.0 rpg,) and blocks (2.0 bpg.) while junior forward Rahlir Jefferson (9.7 ppg.) rounds out the starting five.
Wichita State, under the direction of fifth-year coach Gregg Marshall, returns five of its top six scorers from the 2011 squad that won the NIT Championship. Senior forward Ben Smith leads the Shockers with a 14.3 scoring average while senior guard Toure' Murry (14.0 ppg.) comes off the bench to provide an offensive spark. Senior guard David Kyles (9.7 ppg., 4.0 apg.) directs the WSU attack while 7-0 senior center Garrett Stutz (7.7 ppg., 7.7 rpg.) gives the Shockers a strong inside presence.
Temple and Wichita State played twice in the mid-80s, both coming in Wichita. The Owls won both meetings with the last a 62-60 decision in the 1985 Pizza Hut Shootout championship game.
