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Temple-La Salle Preview

Feb 27, 2010 - 7:21 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Temple (23-5) at La Salle (11-16), 2:00 p.m. EDT

With the best defense in the Atlantic 10, Temple knows that it is going to win some games in an ugly fashion.

The 20th-ranked Owls look to use their defense to notch a fifth straight victory and maintain a share of first place in the conference Sunday when they try for a sweep of city rival La Salle.

Temple (23-5, 11-2) is limiting opponents to 37.8 percent shooting this season, and is tied with No. 23 Richmond and Xavier atop the A-10. The Musketeers host the Spiders on Sunday.

The Owls' defensive style has resulted in some ugly play, and that was the case Wednesday in a 49-41 home win over Dayton. Temple shot 32.1 percent, but limited the Flyers to a season-low 26.3 percent.

"We're thrilled to get the win and move on," said coach Fran Dunphy, a 1970 graduate of La Salle.

Ramone Moore scored a team-high 13 points, reaching double figures for the seventh straight game. Moore is averaging 16.1 points in that stretch, and 16.8 in starting the last five contests.

"We don't really mind winning this way," Moore said. "Guys were missing shots, but we'll take it."

Moore's run of reaching double digits began when he scored 14 in 17 minutes in a 64-52 home win over La Salle (11-16, 3-10) on Jan. 30. The Explorers shot a season-low 29.8 percent, and leading scorer Rodney Green made 5 of 16 shots for 13 points.

"We couldn't score on them," said La Salle coach John Giannini after the loss. "They were stronger inside. They're a well-coached offensive team that really knows their roles. It's a team and a program and a coach that I really admire."

That contest did not count in the Philadelphia Big 5, but this matchup will as Temple looks to complete the city series with a 4-0 mark. The Owls have clinched a share of a record-setting 26th title and have not swept four games since 1987-88.

The loss to the Owls last month marked the start of a seven-game losing streak for La Salle, which was picked to finish higher than Temple in the standings by the A-10 coaches. The Explorers have endured a difficult season, with three starters currently out due to injuries.

Kimmani Barrett is out since Jan. 10 with a fractured bone in his right foot and Yves Mekongo has missed the last four games with a fractured pinky finger in his left hand. Neither is expected to play Sunday and Ruben Guillandeaux is out for the season with a stress fracture in his right foot.

Green scored 21 points in Wednesday's 81-74 loss at George Washington. The Explorers made 6 of 26 3-pointers and are shooting 26.4 percent from beyond the arc during the losing streak.

La Salle has not lost eight straight since Dec. 22, 1999-Jan. 18, 2000.