Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Canisius
Temple Continues Chevrolet Gotham Classic With Canisius Wednesday
12.18.12 | Men's Basketball
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PHILADELPHIA - The Temple men's basketball team continues its run of four straight Chevrolet Gotham Classic games with a Wednesday night showdown against Canisius at the Liacouras Center. Tip-off will be at 7:00 p.m. with the game being broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT and video-streamed via OwlAccess.
The Owls, under the direction of head coach Fran Dunphy, are off to an 8-1 start to the 2012-13 season with their lone loss coming at the hands of top-ranked Duke. Temple is also a perfect 5-0 at the Liacouras Center this season, and has won its last 11 in the building and 36 of their last 37 dating back to January 2010.
It has been Temple's balanced attack, featuring four double-figure scorers, that has led to its early success. Senior guard Scootie Randall tops the squad in both scoring (14.4 ppg.) and rebounding (7.9 rpg.). Senior guard Khalif Wyatt, who will be presented with a commemorative ball to recognize his 1000th point prior to the game, tops the Owls in assists (4.2 apg.) while averaging 14.2 points per game. Sophomore forward Anthony Lee, who missed the Alcorn State game due to illness, averages 10.5 points and 6.5 rebounds while senior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, who leads the team in steals (20) and is second in assists (29), rounds out the quartet of double-digit scorers with a 10.0 average.
Sophomore guard Will Cummings (5.2 ppg.) is the team's other starter while graduate forward Jake O'Brien (6.8 ppg.), graduate guard T.J. DiLeo (4.0 ppg.), junior forward Dalton Pepper (2.0 ppg.) and freshman guard Quenton DeCosey (4.0 ppg.) provide depth off the bench.
Canisius, in its first season under the direction of former St. Bonaventure and Rhode Island coach Jim Baron, has started strong as well, posting a 7-2 record over its first nine games. The Golden Griffins are led by the backcourt tandem of Harold Washington and Billy Baron. The duo each average 15.9 points per game with Washington leading the way from behind the arc (19-41, .463) and Baron, the coach's son, topping the squad in assists. Senior center Isaac Sosa (10.0 ppg.) also averages double figures.
Temple has won the four previous meetings between the schools with the last a 74-72 decision on December 10, 1966.
