Temple University Athletics
Temple University
Charlotte
Temple Takes Four-Game Winning Streak to Charlotte in American Conference Opener Tuesday
12.29.25 | Men's Basketball
Game Info
Tuesday, Dec. 30 – 7 p.m.
Location: Halton Arena – Charlotte, N.C.
TV: ESPN+ | Listen: OwlSports.com/listen | Live Stats | Temple Game Notes
Opening Tip
The Temple University men's basketball team opens American Conference play and closes the 2025 calendar year with a road matchup at Charlotte on Tuesday at 7 p.m. inside Halton Arena.
The Owls (8-5) enter the contest riding a four-game winning streak, most recently defeating Princeton 65-61 at the Liacouras Center on Dec. 22. The 49ers (6-7) enter the conference opener with back-to-back home wins against UIC (88-76) and Lafayette (81-67).
Against Princeton, Temple led 55-53 with just over seven minutes remaining, as the Owl defense produced nine stops over the Tigers' final 11 field-goal attempts to earn the 65-61 win. Jordan Mason (16 points), Aiden Tobiason (12) and Babatunde Durodola (11) led the Owls with double-figure scoring performances. Mason, Durodola and Ayuba Bryant Jr. each set season highs in points against the Tigers.
With a win, Temple would match the longest winning streak of the Adam Fisher era (since 2023-24) at five games. The Owls previously posted five consecutive wins in the 2023-24 season, starting with the regular-season finale and continuing with four straight victories in the American Conference Tournament before falling in the title game.
Temple continues to excel in limiting turnovers, leading the nation with just 8.6 turnovers per game. The Owls also rank among the conference's top five in several categories: field-goal percentage (second, 47.3%), 3-point percentage (second, 37.5%), assist-to-turnover ratio (third, 1.57), free-throw attempts (fourth, 25.1), free throws made (fourth, 18.5), free-throw percentage (fourth, 73.6%) and scoring defense (fourth, 71.4).
The Owl defense has shined during the four-game winning streak, holding opponents to an average of 62 points per game, a .394 field-goal percentage and a .269 mark from 3-point range. Derrian Ford (18.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg), Aiden Tobiason (16.8 ppg, .550 FG%), Jordan Mason (13.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.5 apg) and Gavin Griffiths (10.3 ppg) have led the way during the stretch. Ford (17-for-22 FT), Tobiason (14-for-16 FT) and Mason (14-for-15 FT) have been nearly automatic at the free-throw line, combining to shoot 84.9% (45-for-53) during the streak.
Scouting Charlotte
The 49ers are led offensively by Ben Bradford (14.5 ppg) and Anton Bonke (10.5 ppg). After not reaching double figures in three of the previous four games entering the nonconference finale against UIC, Bradford tallied 26 points and went 16-for-16 from the free-throw line. Marshall transfer Dezayne Mingo ranks fourth in the conference in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.67) and seventh in assists per game (3.7), totaling 13 assists over his past three contests. Bonke is among the conference's best on the glass, with the Providence transfer averaging 8.8 rebounds per game, which ranks fourth in the league and 45th nationally. He has recorded the third-most double-doubles in the conference (four) and ranks second in blocks per game (2.0).
The Owls lead the all-time series against the 49ers 11-7, with the teams splitting last season's series. Both contests went to at least one extra period, with the Owls earning a 90-89 double-overtime win at the Liacouras Center on Jan. 29. The 49ers answered with a 78-72 overtime victory at Halton Arena on Feb. 19. The teams are even at 2-2 since Charlotte joined the American Conference prior to the 2023-24 season. Temple last earned a victory at Halton Arena on Jan. 25, 2012, winning 79-57 when both programs were members of the Atlantic 10.
