Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Buffalo
Men’s Basketball Hosts Holiday Week game with Buffalo Wednesday
12.23.11 | Men's Basketball
Owls put nation's sixth-longest home win streak on line against Bulls
Game Notes | Watch Live
PHILADELPHIA - The Temple men's basketball team returns to action following a nine-day break for the holidays with a game against Buffalo Wednesday, December 28 (7:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT) at the Liacouras Center. The Owls (7-3) will be putting its Liacouras Center record and the nation's sixth-best home win streak (24 games) on the line against the Bulls (6-3).
Under the direction of sixth-year head coach Fran Dunphy, Temple has won four of its last five games with the lone setback at Texas (Dec. 17). Going with a four-guard lineup at times due to the injury to starting center Micheal Eric, the Owls boast three double-figure scorers in seniors Ramone Moore (17.5 ppg.) and Juan Fernandez (12.8 ppg.) and junior Khalif Wyatt (14.7 ppg.). Moore and Fernandez became the 47th and 48th Temple players to reach 1000 points on the team's recent two-game swing through Texas and will be presented with commemorative balls prior to tip-off.
Junior Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (9.2 ppg., 6.1 rpg.) and redshirt freshman Anthony Lee (4.9 ppg., 6.7 rpg.) have stepped up admirably in the front court. Hollis-Jefferson is among the conference's leaders in field goal percentage (.619) while Lee tops the team with 13 blocks.
Sophomore Aaron Brown (7.8 ppg.) leads the Owls and ranks eighth in the A10 with a .441 three-point percentage while averaging 15.8 minutes off the bench. Redshirt junior T.J. DiLeo (3.5 ppg.) and freshman Will Cummings (2.8 ppg.) also provide average double-figure minutes in reserve roles.
Buffalo, under the direction of 13th-year coach Reggie Witherspoon, has split its two games against A10 opponents this season, winning at Dayton by 29 points (84-55) while falling at home to St. Bonaventure (66-60).
Like the Owls, the Bulls also have three double-figure scorers in sophomore forward Jason McCrea (16.7 ppg.), senior guard Zach Filzen (15.9 ppg.) and senior forward Mitchell Watt (14.4 ppg.). Sophomore guard Jarod Oldham (4.9 ppg.) directs the balanced attack and has dished a team-leading 52 assists. Senior swingman Dave Barnett (5.6 ppg.) rounds out the starting five.
Temple leads the series 3-2, but the Bulls have won the last two meetings, most recently, 83-78, in Buffalo on November 29, 2008.
