Men's Basketball Opens Conference Play at #6/7 Houston

HOUSTON - Fresh off its season-opening win over NJIT, Temple now travels to Houston to take on the undefeated and nationally-ranked #6/7 Cougars Tuesday (8 pm/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT) in the Fertitta Center.

SCOUTING TEMPLE
> The Owls used a balanced scoring attack against the Highlanders with redshirt freshman Damian Dunn (18 pts, 7 rebs) leading four double-figure scorers.
> Senior co-captain De'Vondre Perry posted his first double-double with 12 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. The Owls' other co-captain, J.P. Moorman II, closed the game scoring 10 straight points in the final six minutes to seal the win.
> Jeremiah Williams had a strong game, 11 points, 4 assists, in becoming the first true Temple freshman guard to start a season opener since Alani Moore II (2016-17) and only the second since Mardy Collins (2002-03).

SCOUTING HOUSTON
> No. 6/7 Houston will enter the matchup against the Owls undefeated, going 5-0 in its non-conference slate.
> The Cougars are outscoring their opponents by an average of 21.6 points per game, ranking second in the conference behind SMU.
> The team leads the AAC in scoring defense, allowing just 55.6 points per game.
> Picked first in the conference preseason poll, Houston are led by a trio of double-figure scorers, Quintin Grimes (19.6 ppg), Marcus Sasser (17.3 ppg), and Tramon Mark (13.8 ppg).
> Grimes is third in the AAC in scoring average and rebounding (7.8 rpg).
> Preseason first team all-AAC guard Caleb Mills, hampered by an ankle injury, is averaging just eight points over two games. He did not play Sunday vs. Alcorn State.

SERIES HISTORY
> Houston holds an 8-3 series advantage over the Owls, winning four of the last five matchups.
> The teams met just once last season, with the Cougars earning a narrow four-point victory (78-74) at the Liacouras Center.
> Temple has won just one game in five meetings at the Fertitta Center, topping Houston 69-66 on Feb. 21, 2016.

LAST MEETING: Houston 78, @ Temple 74 (1/7/20)
> Despite an electric second half, Temple fell 78-74 to Houston in the team's home conference opener.
> Temple kept it close at the start before Houston broke the game open, taking a 15-point lead late in the first half.
> Temple came back in the second half, taking a two-point lead with just over eight minutes left, but Chris Harris, Jr. went 4-of-4 from the field to seal the win.
> The Cougars took their largest lead of the first half with just 22 seconds left on the clock, going up 39-24 before a long jumper from J.P. Moorman II closed it to 39-27.
> Temple opened the second half with an 11-2 run in the first three minutes.
> The Owls cut Houston's lead to two on a Quinton Rose trey with 16:24 on the clock.
> A pair of free throws from De'Vondre Perry tied the game at 56 and the Owls took their first lead on the next possession on a Monty Scott lay-up with eight minutes left.
> Houston retook the lead and both teams traded baskets, but the Cougars maintained their lead and sealed the game on a pair of free throws.

Men's Basketball Opens Conference Play at #6/7 Houston

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Players Mentioned

Damian Dunn

Alani Moore II

J.P. Moorman II

De'Vondre Perry

Quinton Rose

Monty Scott

Jeremiah Williams

Temple University Athletics