Temple University Athletics
Wednesday, January 25
Liacouras Center
6:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Memphis
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Men's Basketball Hosts Memphis at 6 PM on Wednesday
1.23.17 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - After a week off, Temple men's basketball returns to action at the Liacouras Center on Wednesday, Jan. 25 to host Memphis at 6 p.m. (CBSSN / 1210 AM WPHT). The Owls (10-10, 1-6) are looking to get back on track in American Athletic Conference play, while the Tigers (15-5, 5-2) have won three straight and six of their last seven games.
Temple has lost six of seven contests to begin its conference schedule, winning only against East Carolina at home on Jan. 7. The most recent home loss was a heartbreaker as the Owls fell in the final seconds to Tulsa, 70-68. Sophomore Shizz Alston, Jr. scored a career-high 25 points but Temple was unable to score in the final two minutes.
Alston matched his career high for a second game in a row with 25 points at #20/20 Cincinnati on Jan. 18. The Owls held a 28-26 lead at halftime, but fell victim to the Bearcats' 74 percent shooting in a 55-point second half to lose 81-74.
The Owls' two games against Cincinnati are included in the five games they have played against nationally ranked opponents this season. They are now 2-3 against Top 25 opponents in 2016-17.
Junior Obi Enechionyia leads Temple and ranks 10th in The American with 14.1 ppg. He scored in double figures in the first 10 games of the season and has done so in 15 games overall, with five games of 20 points or more.
In Temple's seven conference games, Alston is the leading scorer with 16.1 ppg. Overall, he ranks second in The American in assist/turnover ratio (3.3, 15th in NCAA Division I) and also ranks second in steals per game (1.9) while ranking fifth in assists (4.3) and 11th in scoring (13.9).
Memphis is coming off a 70-65 win vs. UCF on Jan. 22, the Tigers' third win in a row. Sophomore guard Dedric Lawson is averaging a double-double of 19.8 ppg and 10.2 rpg to lead Memphis and rank second in both categories among all players in The American. Lawson is one of just eight players in NCAA Division I to rank in their league's top 10 for points, rebounds and assists.
Tubby Smith is in his first year at the helm for Memphis. The three-time National Coach of the Year has an overall record of 572-281 as head coach at Memphis, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
Temple and Memphis are meeting for the 17th time and for the seventh time in the last 15 years. The series is tied 8-8 after the teams split games in the regular season last year. The Tigers edged Temple in nail-biter, 67-65 in Memphis on Jan. 13, but the Owls rebounded for a 72-62 Senior Night win at Temple on March 3.
Two years ago, the teams met in the 2015 American Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on March 13, with Temple winning 80-75 to advance. The win was the 500th career victory for head coach Fran Dunphy.
Temple has lost six of seven contests to begin its conference schedule, winning only against East Carolina at home on Jan. 7. The most recent home loss was a heartbreaker as the Owls fell in the final seconds to Tulsa, 70-68. Sophomore Shizz Alston, Jr. scored a career-high 25 points but Temple was unable to score in the final two minutes.
Alston matched his career high for a second game in a row with 25 points at #20/20 Cincinnati on Jan. 18. The Owls held a 28-26 lead at halftime, but fell victim to the Bearcats' 74 percent shooting in a 55-point second half to lose 81-74.
The Owls' two games against Cincinnati are included in the five games they have played against nationally ranked opponents this season. They are now 2-3 against Top 25 opponents in 2016-17.
Junior Obi Enechionyia leads Temple and ranks 10th in The American with 14.1 ppg. He scored in double figures in the first 10 games of the season and has done so in 15 games overall, with five games of 20 points or more.
In Temple's seven conference games, Alston is the leading scorer with 16.1 ppg. Overall, he ranks second in The American in assist/turnover ratio (3.3, 15th in NCAA Division I) and also ranks second in steals per game (1.9) while ranking fifth in assists (4.3) and 11th in scoring (13.9).
Memphis is coming off a 70-65 win vs. UCF on Jan. 22, the Tigers' third win in a row. Sophomore guard Dedric Lawson is averaging a double-double of 19.8 ppg and 10.2 rpg to lead Memphis and rank second in both categories among all players in The American. Lawson is one of just eight players in NCAA Division I to rank in their league's top 10 for points, rebounds and assists.
Tubby Smith is in his first year at the helm for Memphis. The three-time National Coach of the Year has an overall record of 572-281 as head coach at Memphis, Texas Tech, Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, and Minnesota.
Temple and Memphis are meeting for the 17th time and for the seventh time in the last 15 years. The series is tied 8-8 after the teams split games in the regular season last year. The Tigers edged Temple in nail-biter, 67-65 in Memphis on Jan. 13, but the Owls rebounded for a 72-62 Senior Night win at Temple on March 3.
Two years ago, the teams met in the 2015 American Athletic Conference Tournament Quarterfinals on March 13, with Temple winning 80-75 to advance. The win was the 500th career victory for head coach Fran Dunphy.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Basketball
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