Temple University Athletics
Tuesday, March 31
New York, N.Y.
7:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Miami (FL)
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Men's Basketball Meets Miami in NIT Semifinals Tuesday
3.29.15 | Men's Basketball
NEW YORK - Madison Square Garden, The World's Most Famous Arena, will be the stage Tuesday night when the Temple Owls tip off against the University of Miami Hurricanes in the semifinal round of the 2015 National Invitation Tournament (7:00 pm/ESPN/1210 AM). Â The winner will play either Old Dominion or Stanford, who compete in the other semifinal Tuesday (9:00 pm).
The Owls (26-10), winners of 14 of their last 17 contests, are making their fifth trip to NIT semifinals, and first since finishing third in the 2002 NIT. Â The #1 overall seed in the tournament, the Cherry and White defeated Bucknell (73-67), George Washington (90-77) and Louisiana Tech (77-59) at the Liacouras Center to advance to Madison Square Garden. Â Temple, which has won two NITS (1938, 1969), is looking to become the sixth program to capture three NIT titles.Â
Senior guard Will Cummings has been the main reason why the Owls have posted the best turnaround (+17 wins) of any team in the country this season. Â The Jacksonville, Fla. native leads the team in scoring (14.9 ppg), assists (4.2 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) and has been red-hot in NIT play, averaging 22 ppg.
Junior Quenton DeCosey (12.4 ppg) and senior Jesse Morgan (12.1 ppg) also average double figures for head coach Fran Dunphy's squad while junior forward Jaylen Bond (7.7 ppg/8.0 rpg). Junior Devontae Watson (2.8 ppg/3.3 rpg), who is coming off a strong nine-point, four-rebound game against Louisiana Tech, rounds out the starting five.
Sophomore guard Josh Brown (6.3 ppg), who has eight double-figure scoring games on the season, leads a talented and deep bench. Freshman Obi Enechionyia (5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg), junior Devin Coleman (3.7 ppg), sophomore Daniel Dingle (3.7 ppg) and sophomore Mark Williams (3.5 ppg) all average double-figure minutes in Dunphy's 10-man rotation.
Miami (24-12), is making its first appearance in the semifinal round in this its 12th NIT bid. Â The Hurricanes have won nine of their last 12 games, defeating North Carolina Central (75-71) and Alabama (73-66) at home before knocking off top-seed Richmond (63-61) on the road.
Red-shirt junior guard Sheldon McClellan tops the head coach Jim Larranaga's Hurricanes with a 14.4 scoring average. Â Miami is likely to be without its standout point guard Angel Rodriguez (11.9 ppg, 126 assists, 59 steals), who missed the last two games due to an injured wrist.
Junior center Tonye Jeriki provides UM with a strong interior presence, averaging 8.7 points while topping the team in rebounding (10.1 ppg) and blocked shots (51). Â Sophomore guards Manu Lecomte and Davon Reed round out the normal starters, scoring at 8.3 and 8.0 ppg., respectively.Â
Temple leads the series, 2-1, with the Owls winning the last meeting, 73-56, at the Liacouras Center on November 27, 2005.
The Owls (26-10), winners of 14 of their last 17 contests, are making their fifth trip to NIT semifinals, and first since finishing third in the 2002 NIT. Â The #1 overall seed in the tournament, the Cherry and White defeated Bucknell (73-67), George Washington (90-77) and Louisiana Tech (77-59) at the Liacouras Center to advance to Madison Square Garden. Â Temple, which has won two NITS (1938, 1969), is looking to become the sixth program to capture three NIT titles.Â
Senior guard Will Cummings has been the main reason why the Owls have posted the best turnaround (+17 wins) of any team in the country this season. Â The Jacksonville, Fla. native leads the team in scoring (14.9 ppg), assists (4.2 apg) and steals (1.9 spg) and has been red-hot in NIT play, averaging 22 ppg.
Junior Quenton DeCosey (12.4 ppg) and senior Jesse Morgan (12.1 ppg) also average double figures for head coach Fran Dunphy's squad while junior forward Jaylen Bond (7.7 ppg/8.0 rpg). Junior Devontae Watson (2.8 ppg/3.3 rpg), who is coming off a strong nine-point, four-rebound game against Louisiana Tech, rounds out the starting five.
Sophomore guard Josh Brown (6.3 ppg), who has eight double-figure scoring games on the season, leads a talented and deep bench. Freshman Obi Enechionyia (5.0 ppg, 3.5 rpg), junior Devin Coleman (3.7 ppg), sophomore Daniel Dingle (3.7 ppg) and sophomore Mark Williams (3.5 ppg) all average double-figure minutes in Dunphy's 10-man rotation.
Miami (24-12), is making its first appearance in the semifinal round in this its 12th NIT bid. Â The Hurricanes have won nine of their last 12 games, defeating North Carolina Central (75-71) and Alabama (73-66) at home before knocking off top-seed Richmond (63-61) on the road.
Red-shirt junior guard Sheldon McClellan tops the head coach Jim Larranaga's Hurricanes with a 14.4 scoring average. Â Miami is likely to be without its standout point guard Angel Rodriguez (11.9 ppg, 126 assists, 59 steals), who missed the last two games due to an injured wrist.
Junior center Tonye Jeriki provides UM with a strong interior presence, averaging 8.7 points while topping the team in rebounding (10.1 ppg) and blocked shots (51). Â Sophomore guards Manu Lecomte and Davon Reed round out the normal starters, scoring at 8.3 and 8.0 ppg., respectively.Â
Temple leads the series, 2-1, with the Owls winning the last meeting, 73-56, at the Liacouras Center on November 27, 2005.
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