Temple University Athletics
Wednesday, November 10
Philadelphia, Pa.
7:00 P.M.
Temple University
vs
Maryland Eastern Shore
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Men's Basketball Opens Season at Home Wednesday Against Maryland Eastern Shore
11.8.21 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - After a year of stops and starts due to health and safety protocols the Temple Men's Basketball team looks to open its 2021-22 season at home Wednesday night (7 pm/ESPN+/1210 AM WPHT) at the Liacouras Center. The Owls will not only be meeting the Hawks for the first time in program history but will be debuting a new video board and sound system in their arena.
Mask Mandate
> Due to health and safety protocols fans are required to be masked while inside the Liacouras Center.
Promotions
> Veterans' Day – Discounted Tickets for Military Members and Veterans
> $1 Hot Dog Night
Scouting Temple
> The Owls return nine letterwinners, including the top four scorers from last year's squad. Sophomore guard Khalif Battle (15.0 ppg/6.4 rpg), who earned all-AAC and All-Big 5 accolades last season leads the team.
> Damian Dunn (13.5 ppg) also averaged double figure points in 2020-21 and was among the leaders in the country in free throws made (6.1) and attempted (7.9) per game. averaged the third most minutes per game (27.8) on the squad.
> Jake Forrester and Jeremiah Williams round out the Cherry and White's returning starters. The only two returning players to start all 16 contests last year, Forrester and Williams tied for third on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game with Forrester topping the squad in rebounds per game (6.4) and Williams in assists (4.1 apg).
> Sage Tolbert III, who sat out all but the final game of 2020-21 while recovering from knee surgery, is expected to fill the final starting spot. In 2019-20 at Southeast Missouri State, he started all 31 games, averaging 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds.
> Nick Jourdain (2.6 ppg), Tai Strickland (2.3 ppg) and Quincy Ademokoya (1.6 ppg) lead a deep bench for the Owls which also features two freshmen, Zach Hicks and Hysier Miller and Wake Forest transfer Emmanuel Okpomo. Jahlil White and Arashma Parks, both of whom missed all or most of last season to injury, are also expected to contribute.
Scouting Maryland Eastern Shore
> After sitting out the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland Eastern Shore is back on the court for the first time since March 2020.
> The Hawks return just two players, Da'Shawn Phillip and Kevon Voyles, from the 2019-20 season. Ten players have not donned the maroon and gray for Eastern Shore. That group is led by Nathaniel Pollard, Jr. and Dom London. Pollard came to Maryland Eastern Shore in 2020 after averaging 16.5 points and 10 rebounds at Eastern Arizona College. London transferred to the Hawks after spending the 2020-21 season at Florida Gulf Coast. He played in 16 games at FGCU and averaged 6.1 ppg.
> Jason Crafton begins his third season as head coach. His last stop before the Hawks was with the Delaware Blue Coats, a G-League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. He previously guided his alma mater, Nyack College, for six seasons from 2012-18.
> Seniors Mike Mensah and Mayowa Akinsanya were part of the Allan Hancock College team featured on the Netflix TV show Last Chance U.
> Maryland Eastern Shore opens its season Tuesday night at Saint Joseph's.
Series History vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
> Temple and UMES are meeting for the first time.
Mask Mandate
> Due to health and safety protocols fans are required to be masked while inside the Liacouras Center.
Promotions
> Veterans' Day – Discounted Tickets for Military Members and Veterans
> $1 Hot Dog Night
Scouting Temple
> The Owls return nine letterwinners, including the top four scorers from last year's squad. Sophomore guard Khalif Battle (15.0 ppg/6.4 rpg), who earned all-AAC and All-Big 5 accolades last season leads the team.
> Damian Dunn (13.5 ppg) also averaged double figure points in 2020-21 and was among the leaders in the country in free throws made (6.1) and attempted (7.9) per game. averaged the third most minutes per game (27.8) on the squad.
> Jake Forrester and Jeremiah Williams round out the Cherry and White's returning starters. The only two returning players to start all 16 contests last year, Forrester and Williams tied for third on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game with Forrester topping the squad in rebounds per game (6.4) and Williams in assists (4.1 apg).
> Sage Tolbert III, who sat out all but the final game of 2020-21 while recovering from knee surgery, is expected to fill the final starting spot. In 2019-20 at Southeast Missouri State, he started all 31 games, averaging 9.6 points and 7.0 rebounds.
> Nick Jourdain (2.6 ppg), Tai Strickland (2.3 ppg) and Quincy Ademokoya (1.6 ppg) lead a deep bench for the Owls which also features two freshmen, Zach Hicks and Hysier Miller and Wake Forest transfer Emmanuel Okpomo. Jahlil White and Arashma Parks, both of whom missed all or most of last season to injury, are also expected to contribute.
Scouting Maryland Eastern Shore
> After sitting out the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Maryland Eastern Shore is back on the court for the first time since March 2020.
> The Hawks return just two players, Da'Shawn Phillip and Kevon Voyles, from the 2019-20 season. Ten players have not donned the maroon and gray for Eastern Shore. That group is led by Nathaniel Pollard, Jr. and Dom London. Pollard came to Maryland Eastern Shore in 2020 after averaging 16.5 points and 10 rebounds at Eastern Arizona College. London transferred to the Hawks after spending the 2020-21 season at Florida Gulf Coast. He played in 16 games at FGCU and averaged 6.1 ppg.
> Jason Crafton begins his third season as head coach. His last stop before the Hawks was with the Delaware Blue Coats, a G-League affiliate of the Philadelphia 76ers. He previously guided his alma mater, Nyack College, for six seasons from 2012-18.
> Seniors Mike Mensah and Mayowa Akinsanya were part of the Allan Hancock College team featured on the Netflix TV show Last Chance U.
> Maryland Eastern Shore opens its season Tuesday night at Saint Joseph's.
Series History vs. Maryland Eastern Shore
> Temple and UMES are meeting for the first time.
Players Mentioned
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