Temple-Villanova Rivalry, presented by Independence Blue Cross, Returns Friday at The Liacouras Center

PHILADELPHIA – Temple Men's Basketball will look to rebound from its season-opening setback to Wagner when the Owls host Big 5 rival #16 Villanova Friday night (7 pm/ESPNU/1210 AM WPHT). The game is presented by Independence Blue Cross.

This is the first meeting between these rivals in three seasons, the longest break in the series since the Philadelphia Big 5 play commenced with the 1955-56 season. The teams were unable to play in each of the last two seasons due to Covid protocol issues.

Promotions/Sponsors

> Independence Blue Cross is the Game Sponsor
> Rally towels will be distributed to the first 8,000 fans.
> Half-court shot to win a 2023 Q3 Audi.
> Veterans Day recognition.
> Pre-game happy hour from 4:30pm-6:00pm.
> Temple Marching Band performing at halftime.

Scouting Temple

> The Owls are coming off a tough season-opening 76-73 overtime loss to Wagner in their season-opening loss at the Liacouras Center Monday.

> Preseason First Team All-American Athletic Conference selection Damian Dunn led all scorers with 29 points. Dunn also made a career-high 18-of-18 from the free throw line and tied Lynn Greer's school record for most free throws made without a miss in a game (vs. Saint Joseph's, Feb. 2, 2002).

> Preseason Second Team All-AAC Khalif Battle came off the bench to add 16 points and six rebounds with reserve Nick Jourdain leading the Owls in rebounding (7) and blocks (4) while adding 10 points.

> UCF transfer Jamille Reynolds, who was hampered by foul trouble, added seven points in his first game as an Owl while playing 18 minutes in his first start.

> Temple struggled from the field, making just five-of-20 from three-point range (Battle, 3-9) and overall making 21-of-54 (38.9%).

Scouting Villanova

> Villanova defeated La Salle, 81-68, to open the Kyle Neptune era of Wildcat basketball. The former assistant coach took over for Jay Wright, who announced his retirement at the end of last season. Wright, who was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2021, guided Villanova to 520 wins and two NCAA Championships in his 21 years at the helm.

> Villanova is missing two key players in senior guard Justin Moore (achilles), chosen to the preseason All-BIG EAST second team, and freshman forward Cam Whitmore (thumb).

> Veteran guard Caleb Daniels led Villanova in its opener, with game-highs of 24 points and 10 rebounds.

> Eric Dixon added 20 points while Jordan Longino and Brandon Slater each added a dozen.

> Villanova shot a blistering 65 percent from three-point range (13-20) while making 56 percent from the field (29-52).

SERIES HISTORY

> Temple and Villanova are meeting for the 95th time in a series that dates back to the 1914-15 season.

> This is the first meeting in the series since Feb. 16, 2020 as the last two seasons the teams were unable to meet due to the Covid pandemic. It is the longest stretch between games since Philadelphia Big 5 play began with the 1955-56 season.

> Villanova leads the series 51-43, but Temple is 16-11 in home games.

> The series record between Villanova and Temple is the closest of any of the Big 5 schools.

> The Owls have lost seven in a row in the series, but three of those losses have come to a #1 Villanova team with the Wildcats ranked 7th, 9th, 15th and 21st the other seasons.

> 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.

LAST MEETING: #15 Villanova 76, @ Temple 56 (Feb. 16, 2020)

> Despite a solid first half performance, the Temple men's basketball team fell 76-56 to #15 Villanova. With the win the Wildcats earned their 27th Big 5 title to tie with Temple for the most titles in Big 5 history.

> It was a tale of two halves for both teams, with Villanova's 50-point second half deciding the game.

> The Owls were able to take an early lead and keep it close, leading at halftime before the Wildcats' surge after the break became too much.

> Villanova opened the second half on a 20-2 run to take a 14-point lead with 14 minutes remaining. The Owls chipped away at the deficit but were not able to close the gap.

> Quinton Rose scored 20+ points in the third-consecutive game for the first time in his career. His 22 points led the Owls while Collin Gillespie's 29 led both teams.

LAST GAME: Wagner 76, @Temple 73 (OT) (Nov. 7, 2022)

> Damian Dunn scored a game-high 29 points and Khalif Battle came off the bench to chip in 16, but it was not enough as Wagner overcame a 15-point second half deficit to defeat Temple, 76-73, Monday night in the season opener at the Liacouras Center.

> Dunn made a career-high and tied a school record by making 18-of-18 free throws in the game, and single-handily kept the Owls in the contest during a cold-shooting first half. Battle, who started slowly, caught fire in the final 20 minutes with 13 of his points coming after intermission.

> DeLonnie Hunt led four double-figure scorers for Wagner with 19 points while Zaire Williams scored 12 of his 16 points in the second half.

> Jahbril Noel-Price scored five of his 11 points in the final minute of regulation, including a long three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

> Both teams struggled to score in the extra frame, until Rahmir Moore (13 points) but the Seahawks ahead for good with a basket with 1:42 remaining. He added a free throw on the next possession and then Dunn and Noel-Price each made two free throws in the final seconds before Battle missed a desperation three at the buzzer to end the contest.

Temple University Athletics

Temple-Villanova Rivalry, presented by Independence Blue Cross, Returns Friday at The Liacouras Center

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