Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Massachusetts
#23/25 Men's Basketball Celebrates Senior Night Wednesday vs. UMass
2.27.12 | Men's Basketball
Game Notes | Watch Live | Live Stats
PHILADELPHIA - When the #23/25 Temple men's basketball team (22-6,11-3 A10) hosts Massachusetts (19-9, 8-6) Wednesday night (7:00 p.m./OwlAccess/1210 AM WPHT) it will be last game on the Liacouras Center floor for Owl seniors Micheal Eric, Juan Fernandez, Jake Godino and Ramone Moore. With a win this quartet, who have helped lead the Cherry and White to four 20-win seasons and three (and counting) NCAA Tournament appearances, will capture a share of the A10 regular season title and post the 100th victory of their careers.
Moore, a leading candidate for A10 Player of the Year, continues to lead the conference in scoring (18.0 ppg.) and ranks 29th on Temple's alltime list with 1,330 points. Fernandez (10.9 ppg.), who's 1,197 points ranks 34th at TU, leads the team in assists (4.0 apg.) and is seventh (413) in program history. He also ranks eighth in three-pointers made (197) and second in three-point percentage (.398). Eric, who looks fully recovered from his knee injury, posted his second straight double-double Saturday. He is averaging 8.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. Godino, a fan favorite and member of the Owls' "Parliament", is a three-year walk-on who was granted a scholarship this semester.
The Owls, under the direction of head coach Fran Dunphy, will honor their seniors, but more importantly look to rebound from an 82-72 loss to Saint Joseph's Saturday that snapped TU's 11-game win streak. Junior guard Khalif Wyatt joins the three senior starters and ranks fourth in both scoring (17.1 ppg.) and steals (2.1 spg.) while junior forward Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson (9.1ppg., 6.5 rpg.) rounds out the starting five.
Redshirt junior T.J. DiLeo (3.0 ppg.), sophomore Aaron Brown (6.9 ppg.) and redshirt freshman Anthony Lee (5.2ppg., 5.7 rpg.) provide much-needed depth off the bench.
UMass, under the direction of head coach Derek Kellogg, is trying to still secure one of the four first round byes in the conference tournament. The Minutemen are currently tied for sixth with Dayton, one-game behind Xavier and St. Bonaventure who sit in third place with identical 9-5 league records.
Sophomore Chaz Williams (15.8 ppg.) leads UMass in scoring and the conference in assists (6.2 apg.). Raphiael Putney also scores in double figures (10.1 ppg.).
Temple leads the series, 42-20, and has won the last two meetings.
A limited number of tickets remain for as low as $10 each and may be purchased by contacting the Temple Athletics Sales Office at 215-204-8499 or visiting www.owlstix.com.
