Temple University Athletics
Sunday, January 22
Houston, Texas
3:00 P.M.
Temple University
at
#1 Houston
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Men’s Basketball Travels to #1 Houston for Nationally Televised Sunday Showdown
1.20.23 | Men's Basketball
HOUSTON – It has been over five years since Temple has taken the court against the nation's top-ranked team, but that is exactly what the Owls will do Sunday when they meet #1 Houston at the Fertitta Center for an ESPN televised tilt (3 pm ET/1210 AM WPHT).
The Owls (11-9, 5-2) are in a three-way tie for second place in the American Athletic Conference while the Cougars (18-1, 6-0) have won nine straight since their lone setback, 71-65, at home to then #8/10 Alabama.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
> Khalif Battle, who leads the team and ranks third in the American Athletic Conference in scoring (17.5 ppg), has scored 20 points in a team-best eight games. He leads the AAC in threes with 57 and tied for 18th nationally.
> Damian Dunn ranks second on the team in scoring (15.2 ppg), assists (2.6) and field goal percentage (.449). He tallied a career-high 38 points, the most points by an Owl since 2004, against Vanderbilt. He leads the Owls (fifth in NCAA) in free throws made (100) and is second in three-point percentage (23-66, .348).
> Zach Hicks (8.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads the team in three-point shooting (46-129, .357) and Hysier Miller (8.3 ppg, 3.6 apg) are the only two Owls to start all 20 games.
> Jahlil White (5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), the team's top perimeter defender, is averaging 8.3 points and 7.15 rebounds while shooting 25-of-44 (.568) from the field in conference play.
> Nick Jourdain (6.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.3 bpg.), who posted his first double-double of the season (16 pts, 10 rebs) against Memphis has started the last seven games.
> Kur Jongkuch (1.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) has started eight games in place of injured big man Jamille Reynolds (11.1 ppg/6.3 rpg).
SCOUTING HOUSTON
> Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (53.3 ppg) and scoring margin (+22.9), ranks second in winning percentage (94.7), field-goal percentage defense (34.4) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (24.9).
> In addition to both national polls, the Cougars also lead the nation in the NCAA Net rankings, KenPom.com efficiency margin and ESPN BPI.
> Since 2017-18, Houston ranks as the second-winningest team with a 161-31 record.
> Senior guard Marcus Sasser leads the Cougars and ranks third in the AAC in scoring (19.0 ppg). He is also tied for fifth in assists (4.0 apg) and third in steals (2.5 spg).
> Jarace Walker (10.4 ppg) and Tramon Mark (10.2 ppg) also top double figures for head coach Kelvin Sampson's squad.
> J'Wan Roberts (9.5 ppg) leads the team in rebounding (7.1 rpg) while Jamal Shead (8.2 ppg) leads the squad and ranks third in the AAC in assists (5.2 apg).
SERIES HISTORY
> Houston holds a 12-3 series advantage over the Owls, winning six straight and eight of the last nine matchups.
> The Owls last win in the series came on Jan. 9, 2019, a 73-69 decision over the #17 Cougars at the Liacouras Center.
> Temple has only one road victory over Houston, that being a 69-66 win on Feb. 21, 2016.
FACING #1
> Temple will play the No. 1 team for the 21st time in program history and owns a 2-18 record in those contests.
> When the Owls take the court against Houston it will be 1,866 days since its last meeting against the nation's top team. That came against Big 5 rival Villanova with the Wildcats winning 87-67 at the Liacouras Center on Dec. 13, 2017.
> The Owls will be looking for its first win against the top team in the nation since a 77-69 win at #1 Cincinnati on Feb. 20, 2000. Temple's other upset of the #1 team in the nation came on Dec. 22, 1995, a 74-66 overtime victory over Kansas in Atlantic City.
> Temple is also in search of its first win over a ranked team since 63-53 victory over #16 Wichita State on Jan. 15, 2020.
The Owls (11-9, 5-2) are in a three-way tie for second place in the American Athletic Conference while the Cougars (18-1, 6-0) have won nine straight since their lone setback, 71-65, at home to then #8/10 Alabama.
SCOUTING TEMPLE
> Khalif Battle, who leads the team and ranks third in the American Athletic Conference in scoring (17.5 ppg), has scored 20 points in a team-best eight games. He leads the AAC in threes with 57 and tied for 18th nationally.
> Damian Dunn ranks second on the team in scoring (15.2 ppg), assists (2.6) and field goal percentage (.449). He tallied a career-high 38 points, the most points by an Owl since 2004, against Vanderbilt. He leads the Owls (fifth in NCAA) in free throws made (100) and is second in three-point percentage (23-66, .348).
> Zach Hicks (8.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads the team in three-point shooting (46-129, .357) and Hysier Miller (8.3 ppg, 3.6 apg) are the only two Owls to start all 20 games.
> Jahlil White (5.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), the team's top perimeter defender, is averaging 8.3 points and 7.1
> Nick Jourdain (6.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.3 bpg.), who posted his first double-double of the season (16 pts, 10 rebs) against Memphis has started the last seven games.
> Kur Jongkuch (1.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg) has started eight games in place of injured big man Jamille Reynolds (11.1 ppg/6.3 rpg).
SCOUTING HOUSTON
> Houston leads the nation in scoring defense (53.3 ppg) and scoring margin (+22.9), ranks second in winning percentage (94.7), field-goal percentage defense (34.4) and 3-point field goal percentage defense (24.9).
> In addition to both national polls, the Cougars also lead the nation in the NCAA Net rankings, KenPom.com efficiency margin and ESPN BPI.
> Since 2017-18, Houston ranks as the second-winningest team with a 161-31 record.
> Senior guard Marcus Sasser leads the Cougars and ranks third in the AAC in scoring (19.0 ppg). He is also tied for fifth in assists (4.0 apg) and third in steals (2.5 spg).
> Jarace Walker (10.4 ppg) and Tramon Mark (10.2 ppg) also top double figures for head coach Kelvin Sampson's squad.
> J'Wan Roberts (9.5 ppg) leads the team in rebounding (7.1 rpg) while Jamal Shead (8.2 ppg) leads the squad and ranks third in the AAC in assists (5.2 apg).
SERIES HISTORY
> Houston holds a 12-3 series advantage over the Owls, winning six straight and eight of the last nine matchups.
> The Owls last win in the series came on Jan. 9, 2019, a 73-69 decision over the #17 Cougars at the Liacouras Center.
> Temple has only one road victory over Houston, that being a 69-66 win on Feb. 21, 2016.
FACING #1
> Temple will play the No. 1 team for the 21st time in program history and owns a 2-18 record in those contests.
> When the Owls take the court against Houston it will be 1,866 days since its last meeting against the nation's top team. That came against Big 5 rival Villanova with the Wildcats winning 87-67 at the Liacouras Center on Dec. 13, 2017.
> The Owls will be looking for its first win against the top team in the nation since a 77-69 win at #1 Cincinnati on Feb. 20, 2000. Temple's other upset of the #1 team in the nation came on Dec. 22, 1995, a 74-66 overtime victory over Kansas in Atlantic City.
> Temple is also in search of its first win over a ranked team since 63-53 victory over #16 Wichita State on Jan. 15, 2020.
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