Temple University Athletics
Temple University
La Salle
#22/22 Men's Basketball Travels To La Salle For A10/Big 5 Clash Wednesday
2.21.12 | Men's Basketball
Owls put 10-game win streak to test against tough Explorer squad
PHILADELPHIA - It is road week in Philadelphia for the #22/22 Temple men's basketball program as the Owls, who cracked the Top 25 for the first time all season Monday, take to the road Wednesday to take on La Salle (7:00 p.m./1210 AM WPHT) in the first of two A10/Big 5 games inside the city limits. Temple will conclude the week Saturday with its first trip to Hagan Arena since 2001 to take on Saint Joseph's.
Riding a 10-game win streak, Temple heads to Gola Arena playing its best basketball of the season. Head coach Fran Dunphy's charges are shooting 50.7 percent from the field during the current stretch, which has coincided with the return of graduate center Micheal Eric(7.3 ppg., 7.8 rpg., 1.9 bpg.). The Owls are 9-0 since his return from a knee injury that sidelined him for 13 games.
Senior Ramone Moore, the A10's leading scorer (18.2 ppg.), leads a trio of guards that have combined to average 46.7 points, 10.3 assists and 5.7 three-pointers per game. Junior Khalif Wyatt ranks third in the A10 in scoring (17.0 ppg.) and steals (2.1 spg.) while senior Juan Fernandez, the reigning Big 5 Player of the Week, is averaging 11.5 points and a team-best 3.9 assists (9th A10).
Joining Eric in the Owls frontcourt is 6-6 junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (8.8 ppg., 6.7 rpg.), who ranks fourth in the A10 in field goal percentage (.581). Redshirt freshman Anthony Lee (5.4 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) comes off the bench after filling in admirably while Eric was sidelined. Redshirt junior T.J. DiLeo (2.9 ppg.) and sophomore guard Aaron Brown (7.2 ppg.) provide support in the backcourt.
La Salle, under the direction of head coach Dr. John Giannini, enters the game at 18-9 overall (7-5 A10) and is coming off a huge win at UMass on Saturday. Junior Ramon Galloway and senior Earl Pettis share the team scoring lead with identical 14.7 averages. Sophomore Tyreek Duren (13.7 ppg.) and sophomore Sam Mills (11.3 ppg.) also average double figures while freshman Jerrell Wright (9.5 ppg., 6.0 rpg.) rounds out the Explorers starters.
Temple leads the series, 71-40, and has won the last six meetings including a 76-70 win at the Liacouras Center on Jan. 18. The Owls are also 12-3 against the Explorers at Gola Arena and have won the last four meetings in the building.
