Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Villanova
Temple Puts Perfect Record On Line Wednesday at Villanova
12.4.12 | Men's Basketball
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PHILADELPHIA - The Temple men's basketball program puts its perfect 5-0 record to the test Wednesday night at The Pavilion when the Owls take on the Villanova Wildcats (4-3) in a Philadelphia Big 5 showdown. The nationally-televised game (ESPN2) will tip-off at 9:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on 1210 AM WPHT.
The Owls, under the direction of head coach Fran Dunphy, have started a season 5-0 for the first time since 1987-88. That same season also marks the last time Temple defeated Villanova in consecutive seasons. The top-ranked Owls defeated the #10 Wildcats, 98-86, at McGonigle Hall in arguably one of the greatest games in Big 5 history. That concluded a streak of four straight Temple wins, over three seasons, in the series.
Temple will also be looking to win at The Pavilion for the first time since the #19 Owls defeated the #24 Wildcats, 70-57, on November 29, 1990. The Wildcats have won the last six meetings at The Pavilion and own a 7-3 advantage against the Owls in the venue.
Seniors Scootie Randall and Khalif Wyatt continue to pace the Temple attack. Randall tops the team in scoring with a 15.8 average and is tied with sophomore forward Anthony Lee (10.4 ppg.) in rebounding, pulling down 7.2 boards per contest. Wyatt, the reigning Big 5 Player of the Week, is just a single point behind Randall in the scoring column (15.6 ppg.) while leading the Owls in assists (5,0 apg.).
Senior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (9.0 ppg., 5,6 rpg.) tops Temple in steals (12) and blocks (7) while sophomore Will Cummings (5.4 ppg.) rounds out the starting five. Dunphy has the luxury of a deep bench this season with graduates Jake O'Brien (6.6 ppg.) and T.J. DiLeo (4.2 ppg.) garnering the most minutes as reserves. Junior Dalton Pepper (2.0 ppg.) and freshman Quenton DeCosey (3.2 ppg.) are also in the rotation.
Villanova, under the direction of head coach Jay Wright, is beginning a three-game stretch of Big 5 competition. The Wildcats dropped their opening city-series game in overtime at La Salle (77-74) on Nov. 25, but rebounded to snap a three-game losing streak with a 62-52 win at Vanderbilt Saturday.
Freshman guard Ryan Arcidiacono leads VU in scoring with a 12.9 scoring average. Three other Wildcats - sophomore JayVaughn Pinkston (12.4 ppg.), junior James Bell (10.7 ppg.) and sophomore Darrn Hilliard (10.3 ppg.) - also average in double figures with senior Mouphtaou Yarou (9.0 ppg.) topping the squad in rebounding.
