Temple University Athletics

Photo by: Ken Inness
Men's Basketball Heads to #20/20 Cincinnati for a Conference Rematch
1.17.17 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Just three weeks after a narrow loss in the first meeting, Temple men's basketball will have another chance against #20/20 Cincinnati (15-2, 5-0) as the Owls (10-9, 1-5) travel to Fifth Third Arena for a 7 p.m. match-up on Wednesday, Jan. 18 (CBSSN / 1210 AM WPHT). The Bearcats have won eight straight, but have only twice this season been held to as few points as they were in Philadelphia.
Cincinnati, then ranked 23rd in both polls, pulled out a 56-50 win at Temple on Dec. 28 in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Owls shot a season-low 26.7 percent, but also held the Bearcats to a season-low 32.8 percent from the field.
Temple has continued to struggle since that loss, winning just one of its first six conference games. The Owls are 9-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season, but just 1-9 when they fail to reach that plateau.
Leading the way in recent contests has been sophomore guard Shizz Alston, Jr. who scored a career-high 25 points in the Owls' loss to Tulsa on Jan. 14. Over the past 10 games, Alston is the team's scoring leader with 14.1 points per game. Overall, junior forward Obi Enechionyia is the team's leading scorer and rebounder with 14.3 ppg to go with 6.5 rebounds per game.
Cincinnati has four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by sophomore guard Jacob Evans with 14.1 ppg. Cincinnati's only two losses this season were to then-#21 Rhode Island and to #13 Butler, while the Bearcats also boast an overtime win at #19 Iowa State on Dec. 1. Cincinnati is the lone remaining undefeated team in The American, and narrowly defeated second-place SMU on Jan. 12, 66-64.
Temple and Cincinnati are meeting for the 28th time but only the eighth since 2006. Before the Owls' loss to the Bearcats three weeks ago, they had won three straight and swept the regular season series a year ago, winning 77-70 at #22/23 Cincinnati on Dec. 29 and coming out on top in double overtime, 67-65 at home on Jan. 16.
Following Wednesday's game at Cincinnati, Temple will have a full week off before hosting Memphis on Jan. 25.
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Cincinnati, then ranked 23rd in both polls, pulled out a 56-50 win at Temple on Dec. 28 in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams. The Owls shot a season-low 26.7 percent, but also held the Bearcats to a season-low 32.8 percent from the field.
Temple has continued to struggle since that loss, winning just one of its first six conference games. The Owls are 9-0 when scoring 70 or more points this season, but just 1-9 when they fail to reach that plateau.
Leading the way in recent contests has been sophomore guard Shizz Alston, Jr. who scored a career-high 25 points in the Owls' loss to Tulsa on Jan. 14. Over the past 10 games, Alston is the team's scoring leader with 14.1 points per game. Overall, junior forward Obi Enechionyia is the team's leading scorer and rebounder with 14.3 ppg to go with 6.5 rebounds per game.
Cincinnati has four players averaging double figures in scoring, led by sophomore guard Jacob Evans with 14.1 ppg. Cincinnati's only two losses this season were to then-#21 Rhode Island and to #13 Butler, while the Bearcats also boast an overtime win at #19 Iowa State on Dec. 1. Cincinnati is the lone remaining undefeated team in The American, and narrowly defeated second-place SMU on Jan. 12, 66-64.
Temple and Cincinnati are meeting for the 28th time but only the eighth since 2006. Before the Owls' loss to the Bearcats three weeks ago, they had won three straight and swept the regular season series a year ago, winning 77-70 at #22/23 Cincinnati on Dec. 29 and coming out on top in double overtime, 67-65 at home on Jan. 16.
Following Wednesday's game at Cincinnati, Temple will have a full week off before hosting Memphis on Jan. 25.
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