By: Anthony Evangelista
Fresh off their first American Athletic Conference victory of the season, the Charlotte 49ers (1-6 in-conference) head to Philadelphia to take on the Temple Owls (4-3 in conference) on Wednesday night. The 49ers snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 69-61 win over defending regular-season champion South Florida, while Temple looks to rebound after back-to-back road losses.
Tipoff: Wednesday, Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. ET
Venue: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pa.
Spread: Temple -9
Embed from Getty ImagesKey Points to Watch
The 49ers turned in one of their best performances of the season last week, led by Nik Graves’ 19 points and Giancarlo Rosado’s near triple-double (9 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists). After a slow start to conference play, Charlotte will look to carry the momentum from their most recent win into Philadelphia against a tough Owls squad. Getting to the free-throw line has worked well for the 49ers, going 23-30 against USF and getting 26.7% of their total points this year from the charity stripe, good for second in the entire NCAA. Expect Graves and Rosado to continue to find their way to the line, accounting for 18 attempts last game.
The Owls have yet to lose at home this season, highlighted by an impressive 88-81 win over then-No. 18 Memphis. Guard Jamal Mashburn Jr. has been the focal point of their offense, averaging 21 points per game, ranking third in the AAC and eighth nationally. If Charlotte wants a shot in this game, containing Mashburn has to be a massive part of coach Aaron Fearne’s gameplan, as the senior guard has shot 25-74 in the Owls’ last four losses. Against North Texas last Wednesday, Mashburn went 5-23 from the field, a number Charlotte hopes to replicate on the defensive end tonight.
Charlotte enters the game ranked second in the AAC in perimeter defense, holding opponents to just 29.9% shooting from three. This will be a key factor against a Temple team that thrives on outside shooting, particularly with Quante Berry stepping up in conference play, shooting nearly 46% from deep. With Berry and Mashburn having near-limitless range, it’s important for Charlotte to create tougher shots for the Owls by forcing Temple into mid-ranges and contested jumpers.
The 49ers have done well taking care of the basketball, with an turnover percentage of 14.6%- best in the AAC and among the top 25 nationally. Limiting mistakes will be crucial against an opportunistic Temple defense that looks to capitalize on fast-break opportunities. Coming in as nine-point underdogs, Charlotte will need to minimize simple errors that have killed their momentum in contests this season.
Final Analysis
Wednesday’s matchup presents a significant challenge for Charlotte, but the Niners have proven they can compete when they execute defensively and dominate the boards. If they can slow down Mashburn and continue their efficient playmaking, they have a chance to snap Temple’s home winning streak. However, the 49ers’ chances depend more on the shooting of the Owls, as Temple leads the AAC in 3-point percentage at over 42% since the start of conference play. Charlotte has a legitimate shot in the Liacouras Center, but with a team as talented as the Owls combined with their flawless home-court record, it’ll take a big day from the 49ers’ defense to stop the third-ranked team in the AAC.
Listen
You can hear the game tonight on 730 The Game ESPN Charlotte, 97.5 FM and by clicking here beginning at 6:30.
