Temple University Athletics
Wednesday, December 28
Liacouras Center
9:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Cincinnati
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Men's Basketball Hosts #23/23 Cincinnati in American Opener on Wednesday
12.26.16 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - American Athletic Conference play begins for Temple men's basketball at home as the Owls (9-4) host No. 23/23 Cincinnati (10-2) on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 9 p.m. (ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT).
Wednesday's game features an All-You-Can-Eat promotion and game ticket for as low as $25. The All-You-Can-Eat package will be served out of the food stand in Section 120 and includes the following items: all-beef hot dogs, popcorn, chips, and a soft beverage. Packages must be purchased in advance and all tickets will be available for pick-up on the day of the game. Click here to purchase yours now.
For the third straight season, Temple was picked to finish sixth in the annual Preseason American Athletic Conference Poll. In 2015-16, the Owls instead won the conference's regular season title with a 14-4 league record while the previous season, also picked sixth, Temple tied for third with a 13-5 conference mark. In a very tight poll, Cincinnati was the preseason favorite to win The American, earning six of the 11 first-place votes.
The Owls swept the Bearcats last season, including a 67-65 victory in a double-overtime thriller at home on Jan. 16.
Temple is coming off back-to-back home wins against NJIT and Yale, and finished its non-conference schedule at 9-4. In the Yale win, the Owls had their best free-throw performance in four years, hitting their first 23 shots from the stripe and 28-of-30 overall (93.3 percent). Free throws were also the difference-maker in the NJIT win as Temple hit 15-of-18 compared to just 2-of-3 for the Highlanders. Over their last two games, both wins, the Owls are 43-of-48 (89.6 percent) from the line.
Freshman Alani Moore II, named The American's Rookie of the Week on Dec. 26, scored a career- and game-high 26 points against Yale, hitting his first four three-point attempts (4-of-8 overall) and his first 10 free-throw attempts (10-of-11 overall).
After being ranked early in the season, Cincinnati dropped out for two weeks before returning to the polls in week 5. The Bearcats are currently ranked 23rd in both the AP Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and have won three straight including a 93-91 come-from-behind overtime win against Marshall on Dec. 22. Cincinnati's only two losses were to then-#21 Rhode Island and to #13 Butler, while the Bearcats also boast an overtime win at #19 Iowa State on Dec. 1.
Cincinnati finished 22-11 in 2015-16 and tied for third in the league with a record of 12-6. The Bearcats lost in the NCAA First Round to familiar Temple foe Saint Joseph's. Cincinnati returned three starters including Preseason co-Player of the Year Troy Caupain. Along with Caupain, a senior guard, junior forward Gary Clark was also a unanimous selection to The American's Preseason First Team and is this week's American Player of the Week.
Temple and Cincinnati are meeting for the 27th time, but only the seventh since 2006. The Owls have won three straight and swept the regular season series a year ago, winning 77-70 at #22/23 Cincinnati on Dec. 29 and coming out on top in double overtime, 67-65 at home on Jan. 16.
After an 84-53 loss at Cincinnati on Jan. 17, 2015, the Owls rebounded in a big way with a 75-59 home win against the Bearcats on Feb. 10. Temple's score ended Cincinnati's 28-game streak of holding opponents to under 70, which had been the longest active streak in NCAA Division I.
Watch Live l Listen Live l Live Stats l Game Notes l Buy Tickets
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Wednesday's game features an All-You-Can-Eat promotion and game ticket for as low as $25. The All-You-Can-Eat package will be served out of the food stand in Section 120 and includes the following items: all-beef hot dogs, popcorn, chips, and a soft beverage. Packages must be purchased in advance and all tickets will be available for pick-up on the day of the game. Click here to purchase yours now.
For the third straight season, Temple was picked to finish sixth in the annual Preseason American Athletic Conference Poll. In 2015-16, the Owls instead won the conference's regular season title with a 14-4 league record while the previous season, also picked sixth, Temple tied for third with a 13-5 conference mark. In a very tight poll, Cincinnati was the preseason favorite to win The American, earning six of the 11 first-place votes.
The Owls swept the Bearcats last season, including a 67-65 victory in a double-overtime thriller at home on Jan. 16.
Temple is coming off back-to-back home wins against NJIT and Yale, and finished its non-conference schedule at 9-4. In the Yale win, the Owls had their best free-throw performance in four years, hitting their first 23 shots from the stripe and 28-of-30 overall (93.3 percent). Free throws were also the difference-maker in the NJIT win as Temple hit 15-of-18 compared to just 2-of-3 for the Highlanders. Over their last two games, both wins, the Owls are 43-of-48 (89.6 percent) from the line.
Freshman Alani Moore II, named The American's Rookie of the Week on Dec. 26, scored a career- and game-high 26 points against Yale, hitting his first four three-point attempts (4-of-8 overall) and his first 10 free-throw attempts (10-of-11 overall).
After being ranked early in the season, Cincinnati dropped out for two weeks before returning to the polls in week 5. The Bearcats are currently ranked 23rd in both the AP Poll and the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and have won three straight including a 93-91 come-from-behind overtime win against Marshall on Dec. 22. Cincinnati's only two losses were to then-#21 Rhode Island and to #13 Butler, while the Bearcats also boast an overtime win at #19 Iowa State on Dec. 1.
Cincinnati finished 22-11 in 2015-16 and tied for third in the league with a record of 12-6. The Bearcats lost in the NCAA First Round to familiar Temple foe Saint Joseph's. Cincinnati returned three starters including Preseason co-Player of the Year Troy Caupain. Along with Caupain, a senior guard, junior forward Gary Clark was also a unanimous selection to The American's Preseason First Team and is this week's American Player of the Week.
Temple and Cincinnati are meeting for the 27th time, but only the seventh since 2006. The Owls have won three straight and swept the regular season series a year ago, winning 77-70 at #22/23 Cincinnati on Dec. 29 and coming out on top in double overtime, 67-65 at home on Jan. 16.
After an 84-53 loss at Cincinnati on Jan. 17, 2015, the Owls rebounded in a big way with a 75-59 home win against the Bearcats on Feb. 10. Temple's score ended Cincinnati's 28-game streak of holding opponents to under 70, which had been the longest active streak in NCAA Division I.
Watch Live l Listen Live l Live Stats l Game Notes l Buy Tickets
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Players Mentioned
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