Nov. 16, 2008

CHARLESTON, SC - Temple University All-America candidate Dionte Christmas has been named the Atlantic 10 Conference Co-Player of the Week for the week ending November. It is the eighth A-10 Player of the Week honor of his career. He passed former teammate Mardy Collins (2002-06) for the most by a Temple player and now has the fourth most in A-10 history.

Christmas, who shares the honor with senior forward Ahmad Nivins of Saint Joseph's, averaged 26 points and nine rebounds in two Temple wins at the Charleston Classic this weekend. The 6-5 senior guard had 26 points and 11 boards on Nov. 14 in the Owls' 79-65 win versus East Tennessee State. He then scored 26 points and grabbed seven rebounds in Temple's 70-65 victory over College of Charleston on Nov. 15. The Philadelphia native shot 16-of-32 from the field and added seven assists over the two games. His play helped TU opened its season with a pair of victories for the first time since the 2000-01 campaign.