Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Saint Joseph's
#22/22 Men's Basketball Plays Rare Game at Saint Joseph's Saturday
2.24.12 | Men's Basketball
ESPNU-televised contest is first meeting between schools on SJU campus since 2001
Game Notes | Watch Live | Live Stats
PHILADELPHIA - The #22/22 Temple men's basketball team takes the floor at Hagan Arena for the first time since 2001 Saturday night when the Owls (22-5, 11-2 A10, 3-0 Big 5) battle the Saint Joseph's Hawks (18-11, 8-6, 2-1) in a critical Atlantic 10/Big 5 contest. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. in the nationally-televised (ESPNU) sold out contest at SJU's on-campus arena.
Riding an 11-game win streak, its longest since the 1999-2000 season, Temple will be looking to complete just its seventh perfect season in city-series play, and only its second 4-0 Big 5 campaign in 24 years. The Owls also were a perfect 4-0 during the 2009-10 campaign and are 16-7 in Big 5 games under head coach Fran Dunphy. The Hawks are looking to earn a share of the Big 5 title with a win. It would be SJU's first title since the program's perfect season in 2003-04.
Temple enters the game sporting the top two scorers in the A10. Senior Ramone Moore (18.1 ppg.), a leading candidate for A10 Player of the Year honors, continues to top the conference while junior guard Khalif Wyatt (17.3 ppg.), who scored a team-high 25 points in the Owls' OT win at La Salle Wednesday, is right behind. Senior Juan Fernandez (11.2 ppg.) completes the Cherry and White backcourt trio that has combined to average 46.6 points, 10.7 assists and 5.8 three-pointers per game.
Graduate center Micheal Eric (8.1 ppg., 81 rpg., 2.1 bpp.) anchors an inside presence for the Owls that includes junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (8.9 ppg., 6.6 rpg., .580 FG%) and redshirt freshman forward Anthony Lee (5.2 ppg., 5.9 rpg., 1.2 bpg.). Since Eric's return from a fractured right patella, the Owls are a perfect 10-0, and are 13-1 with him on the court.
Redshirt junior T.J. DiLeo (2.9 ppg.) and sophomore Aaron Brown (7.1 ppg.) provide depth off the bench.
Saint Joseph's, under the direction of head coach Phil Martelli, had its three-game win streak snapped Wednesday with a 52-49 home loss to Richmond. Junior guard Carl Jones (16.1 ppg.) leads the Hawk attack. Sophomores Langston Galloway (15.5 ppg.), C.J. Aiken (11.3 ppg.) and Ronald Roberts (10.6 ppg.) also average double figures. Aiken leads the A10 and ranks fourth nationally in blocked shots (3.7 bpg.).
The Owls have won 10 straight against the Hawks, including a 78-60 victory on Jan. 28, and own a 88-65 advantage in the series. SJU, however, is 5-4 against Temple when playing in Hagan Arena, winning the last meeting there, 71-62, on Feb. 13, 2001.
