The No. 3 Houston Cougars (20-2, 8-1 AAC), one of the NCAA’s top scoring defenses, head to face the Temple Owls (14-9, 8-2 AAC) on Sunday. Houston beat the Cincinnati Bearcats 75-69 at Fertitta Center on January 28. Jarace Walker was a top performer with 25 points and seven rebounds.
The Cougars remain first in the American Athletic Conference. Temple won their fourth in a row on January 28 at Addition Financial Arena, beating the UCF Knights 77-70 in overtime. Khalif Battle had 26 points and seven rebounds, leading the team. The Owls are second in the American Athletic Conference.
The teams are meeting for the last time this season. After winning the only prior season game against Houston 56-55 at Fertitta Center on January 22, Temple will be pursuing a season sweep. Damian Dunn led the Owls with 16 points. Jamal Shead had 13 points in the loss. The Cougars have been led this season by Marcus Sasser, who is averaging 16.2 points per game.
Meanwhile, J’Wan Roberts is grabbing 7.0 rebounds per game, and Shead is dishing 5.2 assists. Battle (17.7 ppg) has been the primary provider for the Owls on offense.
Jahlil White is collecting 5.1 rebounds per game, and Hysier Miller is recording 3.4 assists.Holding opponents to 54.9 points per game, the Cougars are one of the best scoring defenses in the NCAA (2nd).
In the last 10 games, Houston is 9-1 with an average margin of +17.3 (77.7-60.4). For the season, the Cougars are averaging 75.4 points per game, compared to 54.9 for opponents. Temple has gone 8-2 over the last 10, scoring 69.3 points per game on average while holding opponents to 66.1 (+3.2 margin).
COUGARS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Jamal Shead: 24.4 | 17.7 | +6.7
Terrance Arceneaux: 2.2 | 7.6 | -5.4
Points per game:
Jamal Shead: 14.8 | 9.1 | +5.7
Rebounds per game:
Ja’Vier Francis: 3.0 | 4.5 | -1.5
Assists per game:
Marcus Sasser: 4.2 | 3.2 | +1.0
OWLS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Jahlil White: 17.0 | 11.9 | +5.1
Points per game:
Zach Hicks: 6.4 | 8.8 | -2.4
Rebounds per game:
Jahlil White: 7.8 | 5.1 | +2.7
Assists per game:
Hysier Miller: 2.0 | 3.4 | -1.4
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
Houston -10.5 (-110)
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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
