Temple University Athletics
Saturday, December 2
Philadelphia, Pa.
7:30 p.m.
Temple University
vs
Saint Joseph's
Photo by: Jesse Garber
Owls Renew Rivalry with Saint Joseph's In Big 5 Classic Championship Game
12.1.23 | Men's Basketball
Game Info:Â Saturday, December 2, 2023 -Â 7:30 p.m.
Location: Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia/Peacock | Listen: 1210 WPHT | Live Stats: Owlsports.com
Social Media
Twitter/X: @TUMBBHoops | Instagram: @tumbbhoops
Tweet #Team128
Opening Tip
The Temple University men's basketball team looks for its 29th Big 5 Championship as the Owls take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks in the championship game of the Big 5 Classic on Saturday, December 2. Tipoff from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
What's At Stake
In the first year of the new format that sees all of the city schools in the Philadelphia Big 5, Temple and Saint Joseph's play for the Big 5 championship. It would be the 29th outright championship for the Owls, who also have a share of 22 titles. The Hawks are looking for their 21st sole Big 5 crown and have shared 11 championships.
Last Time Out - Owls Win Triple Overtime Thriller Against La Salle in Big 5 Instant Classic
In an instant classic worthy of the Big 5 history books, the Owls outlasted the La Salle Explorers 106-99 in triple overtime on Wednesday night. Â
BY THE NUMBERSÂ
Putting In Extra Work
By going to triple overtime, Wednesday's game entered some rare territory. It was the first 3OT game for the Owls since an 83-82 win at Massachusetts on February 11, 1990. The game was also just the fifth triple overtime game in Big 5 history and the first since La Salle downed Villanova, 84-83 on December 20, 1980.Â
Settling In
With his 16 rebounds against the Explorers, Steve Settle III pulled in the most caroms in a game for an American Athletic Conference player thusfar this season.
Play It Again Sam
Sam Hofman has been involved in two of the most prolific games in terms of field goal attempts in Division I in the last three seasons. In addition to the 96 field goal attempts by the Owls on Wednesday, Hofman played for a Houston Christian team that took 95 shots against McNeese on Merch 5, 2022. That game went four overtimes with McNeese taking 96 shots. (Also, yes, we know that's not the actual quote from Casablanca, but it's the phrase that made its way into popular culture so we're going with it.)
Chairmen Of The Boards
Settle and Hofman became the first pair of Temple players to record double figures in rebounding in the same game this season. The pair have been a large part of the Owls effort on the glass with Settle pulling in 7.0 boards per game and Hofman taking down 6.5.
Scouting Report
Saint Joseph's enters play at 5-2 overall and is coming off a 78-65 win against No. 18 Villanova on Wednesday. The Hawks are off to their best seven-game start since the 2015-16 season and were picked fifth in the A10 preseason poll.Â
Leading the offense for SJU is Erik Reynolds II at 17.3 points per game. He is hardly the only scoring option, however as Xzayvier Brown (12.0), Lynn Greer III (10.6), Rasheer Fleming (10.3) and Cameron Brown (10.1) are all posting double figures. Fleming leads the Hawks at 6.7 rebounds a contest and Greer tops the team with 34 assists.Â
For all that scoring output, it's the defense that has carried Saint Joseph's this season. SJU is 20th nationally in field goal percentage defense at 37.7 and is in the top-60 in scoring defense allowing teams to put up 64.3 points per game. The Hawks have also been prolific three-point shooters, currently sitting fifth in NCAA Division I at 31.7 attempts from distance and sixth at 11.4 treys per contest.Â
The flip side of taking so many threes is that SJU doesn't score much at the line. It is 332nd in the nation in free throw attempts per game and 333rd in free throw makes. They have also been loose with the ball at times, ranking above 200th in turnovers at 12.9 per outing.Â
Billy Lange is fifth season with the Hawks, holding a record of 43-79 on City Ave. During his tenure, Saint Joseph's has made strides forward, going from a combined 11 wins from 2019-21 to 16 victories last year.Â
All-Time Series
In a series dating to the 1901-02 season, Temple holds an 94-70 advantage against the Hawks.
Last Time Against Saint Joseph's
Hysier Miller and Jahlil White combined for 19 pointsand five rebounds as Temple downed Saint Joseph's 70-60 on December 6, 2022.
Rivalry Renewed
Maybe it was fate that the Owls and Hawks would play in the Big 5 Classic. SJU is the most often played opponent for Temple in program history with Saturday marking the 165th matchup between the programs.Â
20/20/20 Vision
Hysier Miller has netted 20 or more points in three consecutive games. Coming into the season, he scored 20 points in a game twice in two years.Â
Up Next
Temple returns home for the final time in the 2023 calendar year, hosting the Bloomsburg Huskies on Wednesday, December 6. Tipoff from the Liacouras Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Location: Wells Fargo Center - Philadelphia, Pa.
Watch: NBC Sports Philadelphia/Peacock | Listen: 1210 WPHT | Live Stats: Owlsports.com
Social Media
Twitter/X: @TUMBBHoops | Instagram: @tumbbhoops
Tweet #Team128
Opening Tip
The Temple University men's basketball team looks for its 29th Big 5 Championship as the Owls take on the Saint Joseph's Hawks in the championship game of the Big 5 Classic on Saturday, December 2. Tipoff from the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.
What's At Stake
In the first year of the new format that sees all of the city schools in the Philadelphia Big 5, Temple and Saint Joseph's play for the Big 5 championship. It would be the 29th outright championship for the Owls, who also have a share of 22 titles. The Hawks are looking for their 21st sole Big 5 crown and have shared 11 championships.
Last Time Out - Owls Win Triple Overtime Thriller Against La Salle in Big 5 Instant Classic
In an instant classic worthy of the Big 5 history books, the Owls outlasted the La Salle Explorers 106-99 in triple overtime on Wednesday night. Â
BY THE NUMBERSÂ
- Steve Settle III recorded the seventh double-double of his career and his first in a Temple uniform, posting 19 points and a career-high 16 rebounds. Â
- Hysier Miller scored 20 in the game, his third contest in a row with 20 or more. Â
- Zion Stanford tallied 15 in the game with seven rebounds. Nine of his points and six of his boards came after halftime. Â
- Temple also placed Jordan Riley (16), Quante Berry (13) and Matteo Picarelli (11) in double figures. Â
- TU had a season-high 65 rebounds. In addition to Settle and Stanford, Sam Hofman pulled 11 off the glass. Â
Putting In Extra Work
By going to triple overtime, Wednesday's game entered some rare territory. It was the first 3OT game for the Owls since an 83-82 win at Massachusetts on February 11, 1990. The game was also just the fifth triple overtime game in Big 5 history and the first since La Salle downed Villanova, 84-83 on December 20, 1980.Â
Settling In
With his 16 rebounds against the Explorers, Steve Settle III pulled in the most caroms in a game for an American Athletic Conference player thusfar this season.
Play It Again Sam
Sam Hofman has been involved in two of the most prolific games in terms of field goal attempts in Division I in the last three seasons. In addition to the 96 field goal attempts by the Owls on Wednesday, Hofman played for a Houston Christian team that took 95 shots against McNeese on Merch 5, 2022. That game went four overtimes with McNeese taking 96 shots. (Also, yes, we know that's not the actual quote from Casablanca, but it's the phrase that made its way into popular culture so we're going with it.)
Chairmen Of The Boards
Settle and Hofman became the first pair of Temple players to record double figures in rebounding in the same game this season. The pair have been a large part of the Owls effort on the glass with Settle pulling in 7.0 boards per game and Hofman taking down 6.5.
Scouting Report
Saint Joseph's enters play at 5-2 overall and is coming off a 78-65 win against No. 18 Villanova on Wednesday. The Hawks are off to their best seven-game start since the 2015-16 season and were picked fifth in the A10 preseason poll.Â
Leading the offense for SJU is Erik Reynolds II at 17.3 points per game. He is hardly the only scoring option, however as Xzayvier Brown (12.0), Lynn Greer III (10.6), Rasheer Fleming (10.3) and Cameron Brown (10.1) are all posting double figures. Fleming leads the Hawks at 6.7 rebounds a contest and Greer tops the team with 34 assists.Â
For all that scoring output, it's the defense that has carried Saint Joseph's this season. SJU is 20th nationally in field goal percentage defense at 37.7 and is in the top-60 in scoring defense allowing teams to put up 64.3 points per game. The Hawks have also been prolific three-point shooters, currently sitting fifth in NCAA Division I at 31.7 attempts from distance and sixth at 11.4 treys per contest.Â
The flip side of taking so many threes is that SJU doesn't score much at the line. It is 332nd in the nation in free throw attempts per game and 333rd in free throw makes. They have also been loose with the ball at times, ranking above 200th in turnovers at 12.9 per outing.Â
Billy Lange is fifth season with the Hawks, holding a record of 43-79 on City Ave. During his tenure, Saint Joseph's has made strides forward, going from a combined 11 wins from 2019-21 to 16 victories last year.Â
All-Time Series
In a series dating to the 1901-02 season, Temple holds an 94-70 advantage against the Hawks.
Last Time Against Saint Joseph's
Hysier Miller and Jahlil White combined for 19 pointsand five rebounds as Temple downed Saint Joseph's 70-60 on December 6, 2022.
Rivalry Renewed
Maybe it was fate that the Owls and Hawks would play in the Big 5 Classic. SJU is the most often played opponent for Temple in program history with Saturday marking the 165th matchup between the programs.Â
20/20/20 Vision
Hysier Miller has netted 20 or more points in three consecutive games. Coming into the season, he scored 20 points in a game twice in two years.Â
Up Next
Temple returns home for the final time in the 2023 calendar year, hosting the Bloomsburg Huskies on Wednesday, December 6. Tipoff from the Liacouras Center is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
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