Big 5 Title on the Line as Men's Basketball Travels to Villanova

Wednesday, December 29

Villanova, Pa.

9:00 P.M.

Temple University

#22 Villanova

Photo by: Zamani Feelings

Big 5 Title on the Line as Men's Basketball Travels to Villanova

12.27.21 | Men's Basketball

VILLANOVA, Pa. - Temple (7-5) will be looking to clinch a share of the Philadelphia Big 5 title and keep tied with the Wildcats for most city-series titles when the Owls travel to #22 Villanova (8-4) for a Wednesday showdown (9 pm/FS1/1210 AM WPHT). Currently the two schools have 27 titles each.

> The Owls enter play with a 2-1 Big 5 record with home wins over La Salle and Penn and a road loss to Saint Joseph's. Villanova is 3-0 in city-series play this year with its closest contest being a 71-56 win over Penn.
> The Owls will be looking for their first win over the Wildcats since Dec. 5, 2012, a 75-61 victory at Villanova.
> Villanova has won the last seven meetings, the longest streak in the series since Temple won eight straight from 1927 through 1933.
> This is Temple's last non-conference game on its schedule. The Owls still have not found a date to play their home game against Drexel that was postponed on Dec. 18 due to Covid protocol issues with the Dragons program.

SCOUTING TEMPLE
> Damian Dunn leads the Owls in scoring (13.6 ppg), rebounding (5.2 rpg), steals (15) and free throw percentage (43-50, .860). Dunn has picked up his game since Khalif Battle (21.4 ppg) was sidelined for the year, averaging 17 ppg over the last five games.
> Jeremiah Williams is second on the team in scoring (9.2 ppg) while runs the show offensively. He leads the Owls in assists (4.7 apg, 5th AAC) and minutes per game (30.6).
> Temple's sixth man, Tai Strickland, is next in scoring at 8.2 ppg, while leading the squad in three-point percentage (9-25, .360).
> Jake Forrester, who leads the team in field goal percentage (.544), averages 6.2 ppg and 4.2 rpg and Nick Jourdain (4.0 ppg), who leads the team blocks (1.7 bpg/3rd AAC) and ranks second in rebounding (5.1 rpg), are the frontline starters with Jahlil White (4.5 ppg/4.3 rpg) rounding out the starting five.

SCOUTING VILLANOVA
> Villanova, under the direction of head coach Jay Wright, boasts a balanced attack featuring four players averaging double figures in points.
> All-American guard Collin Gillespie leads the Wildcats, averaging 16.1 points while topping the team in three-pointers (38), assists (40) and steals (18).
> Justin Moore (14.9 ppg), Jermaine Samuels (10.5 ppg) and Brandon Slater (10.3 ppg) also average double figures with Samuels topping the Wildcats in rebounding (6.4 rpg) and blocks (11).
> Eric Dixon (8.5 ppg) rounds out the starting five with Caleb Daniels (9.5 ppg) and Chris Arcidiacono (1.9 ppg) the top reserves.
> Three of Villanova's four losses (#1 Baylor, #3 Purdue, #5 UCLA) come at the hands of teams currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 5.

SERIES HISTORY
> Temple and Villanova are meeting for the 95th time in a series that dates back to the 1914-15 season.
> Villanova leads the series 51-43 and has won the last seven meetings.
> Three of those seven losses have come to a #1 Villanova team with the Wildcats ranked 7th, 9th 15th and 21st the other seasons.
> The series record between Villanova and Temple is the closest of any of the Big 5 schools.
> Temple's last win over the Wildcats since Dec. 5, 2012, a 75-61 decision at Villanova. The Owls' last win over a nationally-ranked Villanova team came on Dec. 13, 2009, when Juan Fernandez scored 33 points to lift the Owls to a 75-65 win over the #3 Wildcats.