Temple University Athletics
Saturday, March 14
Hartford, Conn.
3:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
SMU (American Athletic Conference Semifinal)
Photo by: Mitchell Leff
Men's Basketball Takes on Top-Seed #20/21 SMU in Semifinals Saturday
3.14.15 | Men's Basketball
HARTFORD, Conn. - There is a lot at stake Saturday afternoon (3 pm/ESPN2/1210 AM WPHT) when fourth-seed Temple (23-9) squares off against top-seed and #20/21 SMU (25-6) in the semifinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship. Besides a berth in Sunday's Championship game against the winner of the other semifinal featuring six-seed UConn and second-seed Tulsa, the Owls are looking to cement their trip to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in the last eight years under conference Coach of the Year Fran Dunphy.
The newest member of the NCAA Division I 500 win club, Dunphy may possibly be down one of his team's top players in junior Jaylen Bond. The conference's leading rebounder (8.1 rpg/8.0 ppg) suffered a sprained right ankle late in the first half of Friday's quarterfinal win over Memphis (80-75) and was unable to return.
"I'm sure they (medical staff) will ice him down very well and hopefully there's not a lot of swelling and maybe he can play for us tomorrow, that would be great," said Dunphy. "If not, obviously we'll mix and match like we did a little bit today."
Senior Will Cummings, a first team all-conference selection, led the Owls to their win over the Tigers, scoring 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half against Memphis. The Temple co-captain leads the team in scoring (14.4 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and the conference in steals (2.0 spg) while his perimeter defense is one of the reasons the Owls are holding opponents to 60.3 ppg.
Temple has two other consistent double-figure scorers in junior Quenton DeCosey (12.3 ppg) and senior Jesse Morgan (11.9 ppg), both of whom reached the mark Friday. Junior center Devonta Watson played big in Bond's absence against Memphis, scoring eight second half points to help secure the win.
Freshman Obi Enechionyia, who made a huge three-point play in the closing minutes to give Temple a lead they would not reliquish, will likely see more time on the court if Bond cannot play. Sophomore Daniel Dingle, who grabbed four rebounds over 16 minutes Friday, will also be called upon heavily.
SMU, under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, had to work hard in its quarterfinal win to hold off upset-minded East Carolina, 74-68.
Conference Player of the Year Nic Moore (14.5 ppg, 5.3 apg) leads the way for a balanced scoring attack that also features Yanick Moreira (11.3 ppg/6.3 rpg) and Markus Kennedy (11.3 ppg/6.0 rpg).
SMU defeated Temple in both meetings this season and will be looking to become only the fourth team to post a three-game sweep of the Owls in the last 50 years. Saint Joseph's accomplished the feat in 2006-07 while UMass did it twice (1993-94, 1995-96).
Game Notes | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats
The newest member of the NCAA Division I 500 win club, Dunphy may possibly be down one of his team's top players in junior Jaylen Bond. The conference's leading rebounder (8.1 rpg/8.0 ppg) suffered a sprained right ankle late in the first half of Friday's quarterfinal win over Memphis (80-75) and was unable to return.
"I'm sure they (medical staff) will ice him down very well and hopefully there's not a lot of swelling and maybe he can play for us tomorrow, that would be great," said Dunphy. "If not, obviously we'll mix and match like we did a little bit today."
Senior Will Cummings, a first team all-conference selection, led the Owls to their win over the Tigers, scoring 17 of his game-high 21 points in the second half against Memphis. The Temple co-captain leads the team in scoring (14.4 ppg), assists (4.3 apg) and the conference in steals (2.0 spg) while his perimeter defense is one of the reasons the Owls are holding opponents to 60.3 ppg.
Temple has two other consistent double-figure scorers in junior Quenton DeCosey (12.3 ppg) and senior Jesse Morgan (11.9 ppg), both of whom reached the mark Friday. Junior center Devonta Watson played big in Bond's absence against Memphis, scoring eight second half points to help secure the win.
Freshman Obi Enechionyia, who made a huge three-point play in the closing minutes to give Temple a lead they would not reliquish, will likely see more time on the court if Bond cannot play. Sophomore Daniel Dingle, who grabbed four rebounds over 16 minutes Friday, will also be called upon heavily.
SMU, under the direction of Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown, had to work hard in its quarterfinal win to hold off upset-minded East Carolina, 74-68.
Conference Player of the Year Nic Moore (14.5 ppg, 5.3 apg) leads the way for a balanced scoring attack that also features Yanick Moreira (11.3 ppg/6.3 rpg) and Markus Kennedy (11.3 ppg/6.0 rpg).
SMU defeated Temple in both meetings this season and will be looking to become only the fourth team to post a three-game sweep of the Owls in the last 50 years. Saint Joseph's accomplished the feat in 2006-07 while UMass did it twice (1993-94, 1995-96).
Game Notes | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats
Players Mentioned
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