Temple University Athletics
Thursday, February 9
Liacouras Center
9:00 p.m.
Temple University
vs
SMU
Photo by: Zamani Feelings
Men's Basketball Hosts #25 SMU Late Thursday
2.6.17 | Men's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA - Temple men's basketball will play its sixth game of the season against a Top 25 opponent when the Owls host #25/RV SMU (20-4, 10-1) on Thursday, Feb. 9 at 9 p.m. (ESPN2 /1210 AM WPHT). Temple (13-11, 4-7) has won two of its five contests against ranked opponents so far and is coming off back-to-back American Athletic Conference wins.
Temple is offering "All You Can Eat" special for Thursday night's game (nachos with chili, cheese, jalapeno peppers, salsa and soft beverage game ticket – all for as low as $25.)
SMU is one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won six straight games and 16 of its last 17. The Mustangs' lone conference blemish is a two-point, 66-64 loss at #22 Cincinnati on Jan. 12. Most recently, SMU won by 40 points (86-46) against East Carolina and by 23 points (76-53) at Tulsa.
Junior forward Semi Ojeleye leads SMU with 17.7 points per game which ranks third in the league. The Mustangs went 25-5 overall and 13-5 in The American last season but were ineligible for conference tournament or postseason play due to NCAA sanctions. SMU returned three starters from last year's team while adding Ojeleye, who sat out in 2015-16 after transferring from Duke. Â
Temple and SMU are meeting for the 10th time with SMU holding a slim, 5-4 edge in the all-time series. The Mustangs won the first meeting of the season just over a month ago, 79-65 in Dallas on Jan. 4. The Owls were the first team to defeat SMU in 2015-16 after an 18-0 start for the #8 Mustangs. Temple pulled off the upset at home on Jan. 24, 2016, winning 89-80. It was the only meeting between the two teams last season.
The Owls got their first road win of the 2016-17 conference season by holding off Tulane for a 79-71 victory on Jan. 31 and then topped USF at home by a score of 83-74 on Feb. 5.
Four players reached double figures in scoring at Tulane, led by freshman Quinton Rose with 18 points and a career-high nine rebounds, while five players scored in double digits vs. USF led by senior Daniel Dingle with a career-tying 22 points.
Dingle, who hit a career-best 6-of-7 three-pointers vs. USF, has reached double figures in scoring in 12 of the last 14 games. With 8.9 three-pointers made per game, Temple leads all teams in the league this season. The Owls have been shooting the long ball especially well of late, making 10 or more three-pointers in six of the last nine games and tying their season high with 12 in the USF win. Leading the charge are junior Obi Enechionyia (54 three-pointers), sophomore Shizz Alston, Jr. (49 three-pointers) and Daniel Dingle (45 three-pointers).
Temple had its best first half of the season and best in a number of years vs. USF, shooting a season-best 62.1 percent from the field. The Owls' 46 points were the most in a first half since 2012, with their 23-point lead being the most since 2010.
With a game-high 22 points in a win vs. Memphis on Jan. 25, Alston hit the 20-point mark for a third game in a row and became the Owls' leading scorer this season, now with 14.0 ppg (eighth in the conference).
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Temple is offering "All You Can Eat" special for Thursday night's game (nachos with chili, cheese, jalapeno peppers, salsa and soft beverage game ticket – all for as low as $25.)
SMU is one of the hottest teams in the nation, having won six straight games and 16 of its last 17. The Mustangs' lone conference blemish is a two-point, 66-64 loss at #22 Cincinnati on Jan. 12. Most recently, SMU won by 40 points (86-46) against East Carolina and by 23 points (76-53) at Tulsa.
Junior forward Semi Ojeleye leads SMU with 17.7 points per game which ranks third in the league. The Mustangs went 25-5 overall and 13-5 in The American last season but were ineligible for conference tournament or postseason play due to NCAA sanctions. SMU returned three starters from last year's team while adding Ojeleye, who sat out in 2015-16 after transferring from Duke. Â
Temple and SMU are meeting for the 10th time with SMU holding a slim, 5-4 edge in the all-time series. The Mustangs won the first meeting of the season just over a month ago, 79-65 in Dallas on Jan. 4. The Owls were the first team to defeat SMU in 2015-16 after an 18-0 start for the #8 Mustangs. Temple pulled off the upset at home on Jan. 24, 2016, winning 89-80. It was the only meeting between the two teams last season.
The Owls got their first road win of the 2016-17 conference season by holding off Tulane for a 79-71 victory on Jan. 31 and then topped USF at home by a score of 83-74 on Feb. 5.
Four players reached double figures in scoring at Tulane, led by freshman Quinton Rose with 18 points and a career-high nine rebounds, while five players scored in double digits vs. USF led by senior Daniel Dingle with a career-tying 22 points.
Dingle, who hit a career-best 6-of-7 three-pointers vs. USF, has reached double figures in scoring in 12 of the last 14 games. With 8.9 three-pointers made per game, Temple leads all teams in the league this season. The Owls have been shooting the long ball especially well of late, making 10 or more three-pointers in six of the last nine games and tying their season high with 12 in the USF win. Leading the charge are junior Obi Enechionyia (54 three-pointers), sophomore Shizz Alston, Jr. (49 three-pointers) and Daniel Dingle (45 three-pointers).
Temple had its best first half of the season and best in a number of years vs. USF, shooting a season-best 62.1 percent from the field. The Owls' 46 points were the most in a first half since 2012, with their 23-point lead being the most since 2010.
With a game-high 22 points in a win vs. Memphis on Jan. 25, Alston hit the 20-point mark for a third game in a row and became the Owls' leading scorer this season, now with 14.0 ppg (eighth in the conference).
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Players Mentioned
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