Temple at St. Joseph's

[IE]

Key players: Temple - Ramone Moore (18.1 ppg.), Khalif Wyatt (17.3 ppg.), Micheal Eric (8.1 rpg.,

2.1 blocks per game); St. Joseph's - C.J. Aiken (3.7 bpg.), Halil Kanacevic (8.1 rpg.), Carl Jones

(16.1 ppg.)

What's at stake: The Owls, winners of 11 straight and coming off an 80-79 win over La Salle at Tom Gola Arena, are headed toward a first-round bye in the Atlantic Ten and possibly a No. 1 seed, with an NCAA bid looking like a certainty. The Hawks, coming off a tough home loss to Richmond, are just a half-game out of a three-way tie for third place. The top four teams get first-round byes in the A-10 tourney. If St. Joseph's doesn't get a bye, it will be looking to host a first-round game by finishing as the eighth seed or higher.

 

[IE]

Owls have date with perfection

A victory over St. Joseph?s would enable 22d-ranked Temple to finish with its second undefeated Big Five campaign in 24 seasons and sixth overall outright city-series title.

The Owls (22-5, 11-2 Atlantic 10, 3-0 Big Five) have already clinched at least a share of their 26th Big Five title in the 57-year history of city-series play.

Considering Temple?s 78-60 victory in the teams? previous meeting, one would assume Temple shouldn?t have in problem in Saturday?s night matchup at Hagan Arena.

That?s where they might be wrong.

The Hawks (18-11, 8-6, 2-1) are eager to prove that they were much better than that 18-point setback indicates. Plus, a victory would give them a share of the Big Five title. And St. Joe?s should be energized with all the fan support inside its home arena.

This game marks Temple?s first trip to Hagan since a 71-62 St.Joe?s win on Feb. 13, 2001.

Here?s a look at the probable starters, coaches? records and series information:



PROBABLE STARTERS

TEMPLE (22-5, 11-2 A-10, 3-0 Big Five)

32 Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson F 6-6 Jr. 8.9 ppg. 6.6 rpg.

50 Micheal Eric F 6-11 Gr. 8.1 ppg. 8.1 rpg.

4 Juan Fernandez G 6-4 Sr. 11.2 ppg. 4 apg.

1 Khalif Wyatt G 6-4 Jr. 17.3 ppg. 2.1 spg.

10 Ramon Moore G 6-4 Sr. 18.1 ppg. 3.4 apg.



ST. JOSEPH'S (18-11, 8-6, 2-1)

21 Halil Kanacevic F 6-8 Soph. 7.9 ppg. 8.1 rpg.

11 Daryus QuarlesF 6-6 Soph 5.2 ppg. 2.4 rpg

1 C.J. Aiken C 6-9 Soph. 11.3 ppg. 3.7 bpg.

10 Langston Galloway G 6-2 Soph. 15.5 ppg. 4.5 rpg

35 Carl Jones G 5-11 Jr. 16.1 ppg. 3.2 apg.



LAST MEETING

Moore finished with a game-high 21 points at Temple won 78-60 on Jan. 28 at the Liacouras Center.