Temple (15-14) vs. (22) Dayton (23-5)
DATE & TIME: Saturday, March 15th, 6:00 p.m. (et).
FACTS & STATS: Site: University of Dayton Arena (13,266) -- Dayton, Ohio
Television: ESPN. Home Record: Temple 8-4, Dayton 16-1. Away Record: Temple
5-10, Dayton 7-4. Neutral Record: Temple 2-0, Dayton 0-0. Conference
Record: Temple 10-6, Dayton 14-2. Series Record: Temple leads, 11-6.
GAME NOTES: The 22-ranked Dayton Flyers try for their first-ever Atlantic 10
Tournament title when they tangle with the surprising Temple Owls in the
championship game from the University of Dayton Arena tonight. The Owls
continue to shine late in the year, as they pulled off the biggest upset in
the tournament by ousting the 10th-ranked and top-seeded Xavier Musketeers,
63-57 in Friday's semifinal contest. It was the eighth win in the last nine
games for Temple, which defeated Richmond, 66-52 in the quarterfinals. The
Owls entered the tournament as the second-seed out of the East and are in
search of their league-leading seventh tournament title, and their third in
the last four years. Temple, with a 15-14 overall mark, will need to win the
conference tournament if its to receive and invite to the Big Dance. As for
Dayton, it defeated a tough Saint Joseph's squad, 76-73 in the semifinals on
Friday, which improved the squad to an impressive 16-1 at the UD Arena this
year. The Flyers are on a roll, having won 16 of their last 17 games overall,
including an easy 74-57 victory over Rhode Island in the quarterfinals. Dayton
finished the regular season in the A-10 with a 14-2 mark, earning it the
second seed out of the West. Temple has an 11-6 all-time series advantage
against Dayton, but was defeated, 57-49 at home by the Flyers earlier this
season.
Temple continued to play its trade mark defense, as it forced Xavier into 20
turnovers, which it turned into 28 points in a 63-57 victory. The Owls also
owned a 14-1 advantage in steals, while holding the Musketeers to a dismal
38.8 percent shooting effort. Temple on the other end of the court, knocked in
44.6 percent of its field goal attempts, but just 33.3 percent from long
range. Xavier stayed close by connecting on 39.3 percent from three-point
land, but hurt itself with an 8-of-18 shooting effort from the free-throw
line. Temple was not much better from the charity stripe, converting just 5-
of-13, while being outrebounded 39-31. Brian Polk led the Owls with a game-
high 22 points on 9-of-18 shooting from the field and 4-of-10 from behind the
arc. David Hawkins also turned in a solid performance with 21 points on 8-
of-15 shooting from the floor, while creating six steals. Maurice Collins
added 10 points, despite only knocking in 4-of-14 from the floor and 2-of-7
from three-point land in the winning effort.
D.J. Stelly stripped the ball away from Saint Joseph's with time expiring as
Dayton held on for 76-73 victory, after almost letting a 19-point second half
lead disappear. The Flyers seemed to be in control of the game midway through
the closing stanza before the Hawks began to use a full-court press, which
held Dayton scoreless for more than three-minutes. Saint Joseph's also forced
the Flyers into 16 turnovers while blocking eight shots. The Flyers were able
to make up for the sloppy play, by outrebounding SJU 42-29 including 19-6 on
the offensive glass. Dayton shot only 42.6 percent from the floor, while the
Hawks connected on 48.0 percent of their total field goal attempts. Dayton
also had difficult time from the charity stripe, converting just 15-of-25,
compared to 21-of-28 from the Hawks. Ramod Marshall led the Flyers with 15
points on 6-of-12 shooting from the floor and 2-of-5 from behind the arc.
Brooks Hall added 14 points and eight rebounds, while hitting on 4-of-7 from
three-point land. Mark Jones netted 13 points and dished out five assists,
while Keith Waleskowski recorded a double-double with 11 points and 11
rebounds in the winning effort.
For Temple it is do or die, and if it hopes to advance it will need another
strong defensive effort. Dayton appeared as if its was going to cruise into
the championship game, but nearly got tripped up late by St. Joseph's. The
Owls looked like the stronger team in the quarterfinals and should be able to
carry their momentum over against a solid Flyers squad tonight.
Temple
After a loss are 6-4
After playing Xavier are 1-0
When playing on Saturday are 6-4
Dayton
After a win are 8-2
After playing Fordham are 0-1
When playing on Saturday are 7-3
