Temple University Athletics
Wednesday, November 30
Philadelphia, Pa.
7:00 p.m.
Temple University
at
Saint Joseph's
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Men's Basketball Heads to Big 5 Rival Saint Joseph's on Wednesday
11.29.16 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Looking for its fourth win in a row, Temple men's basketball will play its second Philadelphia Big 5 game of the season on Wednesday, Nov. 30 at Saint Joseph's (3-2, 0-0 Big 5) at 7 p.m. (CBSSN / 1210 AM WPHT). The Owls (4-2, 1-0 Big 5) are receiving votes in both Top 25 polls after upsetting back-to-back nationally ranked opponents last week.
En route to winning the 2016 NIT Season Tip-Off title, the Owls took down No. 25 Florida State and No. 19 West Virginia to mark the first time in program history Temple had defeated back-to-back ranked opponents in the regular season. The Owls had achieved the feat once before during NCAA Tournament play in 2001.
In the Top 25 polls for Nov. 28, Temple is receiving eight votes in the AP Poll and one vote in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Owls erased an 18-point second-half deficit in an 89-86 upset of No. 5/RV Florida State on Thanksgiving Day behind a career-high 26 points from freshman Quinton Rose and a career-high 22 points from sophomore Shizz Alston, Jr. One day later, Temple claimed its first regular season tournament title since 1998 with an 81-77 upset of No. 19/17 West Virginia. Four players scored in double figures, led by junior and Tournament MVP Obi Enechionyia's double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Temple earned both of the conference's weekly honors on Nov. 28, with Enechionyia being named American Player of the Week and Rose selected as the American's Rookie of the Week. Enechionyia was also named the NCAA.com Player of the Week and the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week.
Enechionyia ranks second in the American with 20.2 points per game, while also ranking in a tie for fifth with 9.0 rebounds per game and ranking third with 3.0 blocks per game. Alston is the conference leader in steals (3.0 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (7.8). Alston's steals per game average is good enough for fourth among all players in NCAA Division I, while his assist/turnover ratio ranks fifth.
Saint Joseph's is 3-2 overall after back-to-back losses, and will be playing its first game since a 73-63 loss to NC State on Nov. 21 at the Paradise Jam. Leading the Hawks this season is junior guard Shavar Newkirk with 21.8 points per game. Newkirk has scored 20 or more points in four of five games and in three consecutive contests for SJU.
The Hawks are coming off a 28-8 season that saw them win the Atlantic 10 Championship and advance to the NCAA Second Round. SJU returned just one starter from that team in Newkirk, and lost A-10 and Big 5 Player of the Year?DeAndre' Bembry. The Hawks went 3-1 in Big 5 play in 2015-16, and are playing their first Big 5 game of this season against Temple.
Temple and Saint Joseph's will be meeting for the 159th time, which is the most meetings between two Philadelphia Big 5 teams. The Owls lead the series 89-69, with the 89 wins being the most against any opponent.
SJU has won five straight in the series at its on-campus venue, with the last two decided by just two points. Last year's meeting was a 66-65 overtime win for the Hawks at the Liacouras Center, while the previous years' game saw SJU win 58-56 at Hagan Arena. The Owls' last win was the year prior, 77-69 at the Liacouras Center on Dec. 4, 2013. Temple's last win at Hagan Arena was on Feb. 9, 1999 (85-78) when the venue was known as Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Listen Live l Live Stats l Game Notes
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En route to winning the 2016 NIT Season Tip-Off title, the Owls took down No. 25 Florida State and No. 19 West Virginia to mark the first time in program history Temple had defeated back-to-back ranked opponents in the regular season. The Owls had achieved the feat once before during NCAA Tournament play in 2001.
In the Top 25 polls for Nov. 28, Temple is receiving eight votes in the AP Poll and one vote in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll.
The Owls erased an 18-point second-half deficit in an 89-86 upset of No. 5/RV Florida State on Thanksgiving Day behind a career-high 26 points from freshman Quinton Rose and a career-high 22 points from sophomore Shizz Alston, Jr. One day later, Temple claimed its first regular season tournament title since 1998 with an 81-77 upset of No. 19/17 West Virginia. Four players scored in double figures, led by junior and Tournament MVP Obi Enechionyia's double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds.
Temple earned both of the conference's weekly honors on Nov. 28, with Enechionyia being named American Player of the Week and Rose selected as the American's Rookie of the Week. Enechionyia was also named the NCAA.com Player of the Week and the Philadelphia Big 5 Player of the Week.
Enechionyia ranks second in the American with 20.2 points per game, while also ranking in a tie for fifth with 9.0 rebounds per game and ranking third with 3.0 blocks per game. Alston is the conference leader in steals (3.0 per game) and assist/turnover ratio (7.8). Alston's steals per game average is good enough for fourth among all players in NCAA Division I, while his assist/turnover ratio ranks fifth.
Saint Joseph's is 3-2 overall after back-to-back losses, and will be playing its first game since a 73-63 loss to NC State on Nov. 21 at the Paradise Jam. Leading the Hawks this season is junior guard Shavar Newkirk with 21.8 points per game. Newkirk has scored 20 or more points in four of five games and in three consecutive contests for SJU.
The Hawks are coming off a 28-8 season that saw them win the Atlantic 10 Championship and advance to the NCAA Second Round. SJU returned just one starter from that team in Newkirk, and lost A-10 and Big 5 Player of the Year?DeAndre' Bembry. The Hawks went 3-1 in Big 5 play in 2015-16, and are playing their first Big 5 game of this season against Temple.
Temple and Saint Joseph's will be meeting for the 159th time, which is the most meetings between two Philadelphia Big 5 teams. The Owls lead the series 89-69, with the 89 wins being the most against any opponent.
SJU has won five straight in the series at its on-campus venue, with the last two decided by just two points. Last year's meeting was a 66-65 overtime win for the Hawks at the Liacouras Center, while the previous years' game saw SJU win 58-56 at Hagan Arena. The Owls' last win was the year prior, 77-69 at the Liacouras Center on Dec. 4, 2013. Temple's last win at Hagan Arena was on Feb. 9, 1999 (85-78) when the venue was known as Alumni Memorial Fieldhouse.
Listen Live l Live Stats l Game Notes
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