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Temple-Houston preview: Owls will try to avenge a loss

Houston is coming off Thursday's home win over No. 5 Cincinnati, while Temple fell at No. 19 Wichita State.

Temple's Obi Enechionyia splitting UConn's Isaiah Whaley and Jalen Adams (4) as he drives to the basket on Jan. 28.
Temple's Obi Enechionyia splitting UConn's Isaiah Whaley and Jalen Adams (4) as he drives to the basket on Jan. 28.Read moreELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer
    by Marc Narducci | Columnist
    Published 

Houston (20-5, 10-3 American Athletic Conference at Temple (15-11, 7-7)

4 p.m. Sunday, Liacouras Center.

TV: CBS Sports Network

Radio: WPHT-AM (1210)

Livestream: none.

Coaches: Houston, Kelvin Sampson (4th season, 76-45; overall, 501-272); Temple, Fran Dunphy, (12th season, 245-147; overall, 555-310).

Series: Houston leads, 5-2.

Last meeting: Shizz Alston had 18 points, but a Temple comeback effort fell short in a 76-73 loss at Houston on Dec. 30. Houston forward Breaon Brady had 21 points and nine rebounds and shot 8 for 9 from the field.

The latest: Many think Houston nailed down an NCAA Tournament berth with Thursday's 69-67 home win over No. 5 Cincinnati, the Cougars' first victory over an  Associated Press Top 5 team since 1996. Senior forward Devin Davis finished with 16 points and 10 rebounds and junior guard Corey Davis Jr. (no relation) added 16 points in the win. … Houston senior guard Rob Gray is third in the AAC in scoring, averaging 17.5 points. … Temple is coming off Thursday's 93-86 loss at No. 19 Wichita State in a game the Owls led by 14 points at halftime. Senior forward Obi Enechionyia led five double-figure scorers with 17 points before fouling out late in the game. Freshman swingman Dre Perry scored a career-high 15 points, hitting 5 of 7 three-point attempts. … For Temple to stay in realistic contention for an at-large NCAA bid, the Owls will likely have to win their final four regular-season games, which also include a home game against Central Florida and then matchups at Connecticut and Tulsa. … In this year's earlier game, Houston outrebounded Temple, 42-27. … Houston is second in the AAC in scoring (76.6 ppg.) and fourth in scoring defense (64.8 ppg.). Temple is seventh in scoring (70.4 ppg.) and fifth in scoring defense (69.7 ppg.).