Men's Basketball Faces Minnesota in Puerto Rico Tip-Off Thursday Morning

Thursday, November 19

San Juan, Puerto Rico

11:30 a.m.

Temple University

Minnesota

Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Men's Basketball Faces Minnesota in Puerto Rico Tip-Off Thursday Morning

11.17.15 | Men's Basketball

PHILADELPHIA - The Minnesota Golden Gophers will be the first of three opponents for Temple men's basketball at the 2015 Puerto Rico Tip-Off, set for Nov. 19-22 in San Juan. The Owls' opening game of the tournament is set for 11:30 a.m. (ET) on Thursday, Nov. 19, and will be televised by ESPNU.

Temple is coming off a 91-67 loss to #1/1 North Carolina in its season opener at the Veterans Classic. It was the first time the Owls had faced a #1 team in their season opener, and the 17th time overall in program history. Senior Devin Coleman made a strong debut in his first start as an Owl, scoring a career and team-high 19 points including 16 in the first half. Coleman was named to the American Conference Weekly Honor Roll for his efforts.

Senior guard Quenton DeCosey has now scored 998 career points, needing just two more to become the 51st player in program history to score 1,000 points. DeCosey scored 11 in the opener, while freshman Levan Shawn Alston, Jr., scored 12 points in his collegiate debut. Alston was the first true freshman to score in double figures in his Temple debut since Mark Tyndale in 2004.

Temple is appearing in the Puerto Rico Tip-Off for a third time, having also participated in 2007-08 and 2011-12. The Owls are 3-3 overall in the tournament.

Minnesota enters the week with a 2-0 record after a 76-58 win against UMKC in the season opener, followed by a 67-56 victory over Louisiana-Monroe. Joey King has averaged 21 points in the two wins to lead the Gophers, while also pulling down a team-best 6.0 rebounds per game. King hit 6-of-9 from long range and scored 22 points in the season-opening win vs. UMKC, and went 9-of-10 at the free throw line on his way to 20 points against La.-Monroe.

Temple and Minnesota are meeting for the sixth time, but for the first in over 12 years. Minnesota holds a 3-2 lead in the series. The Golden Gophers ousted the Owls from the 2003 NIT in the most recent meeting, winning the quarterfinal meeting 63-58 in OT on March 27, 2003 in Philadelphia. Minnesota has won two in a row against Temple, including a 76-57 NCAA Second Round victory on March 16, 1997. The Owls' last win in the series was on Dec. 28, 1971 at home by a score of 60-57. Minnesota head coach Richard Pitino, the son of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino, is in his third season at the helm with a record of 45-28.

The Owls will have a quick turnaround before their second game in Puerto Rico, facing either Butler or Missouri State on Friday, Nov. 20. The final game of the week is set for Sunday, Nov. 22 and will see Temple face either Texas Tech, Utah, Miami (FL) or Mississippi State.

23709