Temple University Athletics

Saturday, February 7
Memphis, Tenn.
1:00 p.m.

Temple University

at

Memphis

Team
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University

Men's Basketball Heads to Memphis for Key Showdown Saturday

2.6.15 | Men's Basketball

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - The Temple men's basketball team puts its four-game win streak to the test Saturday when the Owls (16-7, 7-3 American) travel to Memphis (14-8, 6-3 American) for a key conference game against the Tigers (Noon/ESPNews/1210 AM WPHT).

It is the only meeting between the teams this season, one of only two conference foes (Houston) the Owls only play once.

Temple currently resides in third place in the conference standings, tied with Cincinnati (16-7, 7-3) behind Tulsa (17-5, 10-0) and SMU (18-5, 9-2) with Memphis one half-game behind. A win will allow the Owls to hold third and keep within striking distance of the leaders.

Senior guard Will Cummings, who became the 50th Temple player to reach 1000 points in the win over USF, tops the team in assists (86) and steals (32) while placing second in scoring (13.2 ppg).  Junior guard Quenton DeCosey tops the three-man scoring race (13.3 ppg) while senior transfer Jesse Morgan (12.5 ppg) is right behind.

Junior forward Jaylen Bond (7.9 ppg, 8.1 rpg) continues to lead the conference in rebounding while junior center Devontae Watson (2.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg) rounds out the starters.

Sophomore guard Josh Brown (6.3 ppg) and freshman forward Obi Enechionyia (4.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg) are the top two reserves in a 10-man rotation that includes redshirt sophomore Daniel Dingle (4.4 ppg), junior Devin Coleman (4.3 ppg) and sophomore Mark Williams (4.1 ppg).

Memphis has won their last two league games at Tulane (57-55) and vs. East Carolina (70-58), but has since played two non-conference opponents, falling 82-64 at #2 Gonzaga and beating Jacksonville State 74-48.

Sophomore forward Austin Nichols is the only Tiger averaging double figures in scoring at 13.2 ppg, and also leads the team with 6.0 rpg and a shooting percentage of .504 (121-of-240).

Temple and Memphis are meeting for the 13th time but only the third in the last 13 years. The Tigers, who lead the series 7-5, won both meetings in the inaugural season of the American Athletic Conference, getting a 79-69 win in Philadelphia and edging the Owls 82-79 in overtime in Memphis.

Memphis has won four straight in the series, including a 78-77 victory in the NIT Semifinals at Madison Square Garden on March 26, 2002. The Owls' most recent win was at Memphis, a 67-62 decision on Nov. 17, 2000.

Temple's coaching staff will be wearing blue puzzle piece lapel pins at Memphis to celebrate the NCAA's 2nd Annual Autism Awareness Weekend to benefit Autism Speaks.

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Memphis
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Feb 7 (Sat)

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Ep. 11: American Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti
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Ep. 10: Temple Homecoming Preview; Volleyball Assistant Coach Taylor Davenport
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Ep. 9: Head Women's Soccer Coach Chris Shaw
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Ep. 8: Temple Athletics Weekly Recap; Women's Cross Country Runner Amelia Sabatino
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