Thursday, Dec. 18 – 7 p.m.
Location: John M. Belk Arena – Davidson, N.C.
TV: ESPN+ | Listen: OwlSports.com/listen | Live Stats | Temple Game Notes
Social Media
Twitter/X: @TUMBBHoops | Instagram: @tumbbhoops
Opening Tip
After back-to-back dominant wins in North Philadelphia, the Temple University men's basketball team heads to Davidson for its final non-conference road game of the season Thursday at 7 p.m.
The Owls and Wildcats meet for the fifth time, with Temple holding a 3-1 edge in the all-time series, including a thrilling 62-61 victory last season. Davidson earned a tight 63-60 win in the first meeting during the 1967-68 season, while the Cherry and White have claimed wins in three consecutive contests.
Temple defeated Davidson 77-75 in overtime at the Barclays Center on Dec. 15, 2018, and added a 66-53 neutral-site victory on Dec. 1, 2019, at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. Thursday's contest marks the first meeting between the programs in Davidson, N.C., and at John M. Belk Arena.
Jordan Mason was named to the American Conference weekly honorable mention list after averaging 12.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 10.0 assists while shooting 69.2 percent (9-of-13) from the floor and a perfect 100 percent (6-of-6) from the free-throw line. Mason leads the American and ranks 14th nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio. He became the first Owl since at least the 2004-05 season to record nine or more assists in back-to-back games.
Temple is coming off a 95-67 win over Saint Francis on Sunday, in which the Owls knocked down 15 3-pointers. It marked the most triples made by a Temple squad since Feb. 15, 2018, when the Owls connected on 16 treys at Wichita State.
Derrian Ford became the first Owl to shoot 100 percent from 3-point range on at least five attempts since Devin Coleman against SMU on Jan. 24, 2016.
Mason totaled 15 points, five rebounds and nine assists while shooting better than 50 percent from the field, becoming the first Owl to do so since Mark Tyndale against St. Bonaventure on Feb. 20, 2008. After dishing out 11 assists against Georgian Court, Mason now has 20 assists over his past two contests.
The Owls posted their highest shooting percentage (.596) since shooting .627 against Saint Joseph's on Dec. 10, 2019. Temple scored 95 points, marking the first time the program has reached at least 95 points in back-to-back games since the 2006-07 season.
The Wildcats enter the matchup with an 8-2 record, including a 6-1 mark at home. After opening the season 5-0 with wins over DeSales, Washington State, Charlotte, Bowling Green and Boston College, Davidson suffered losses to Utah State (94-60) and St. Mary's (70-61). The Wildcats are coming off a dominant 80-47 victory over Mercyhurst.
Davidson features a balanced offensive attack, with six players averaging between 6.3 and 11.2 points per game. The Wildcats' 39.1 bench points per game rank ninth nationally and second in the Atlantic 10.
Expect a low-turnover contest, as Davidson's 10.7 turnovers per game lead the conference.
Head coach Matt McKillop is in his fourth season at the helm, holding a career record of 56-51.
