Temple @ Central Florida preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 9, 2019 ) Central Florida 62, Temple 67

In its most recent game, Temple proved it could recover from a tough one-point defeat. Now it's Central Florida's turn to show that it can do the same Tuesday when the Knights host the Owls in the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Temple lost to Miami (Fla.) two weeks ago on a pair of late free throws but bounced back from the 78-77 defeat by topping Rider 78-66 in their final non-conference tune-up. UCF, meanwhile, had won six games in a row before falling to Oklahoma 53-52 in its last game with a late 3-pointer proving decisive. UCF and Temple each finished 13-5 in league play a season ago before ultimately making early exits in the NCAA Tournament. The teams split two meetings in 2018-19 with each winning on its home court and, in fact, the Knights have won three straight home matchups with the Owls.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TEMPLE (8-3): Alani Moore II knocked down five 3-pointers in the win over Rider, while Jake Forrester contributed 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting and the Pierre-Louis brothers (Josh and Nate) combined for 23 points. The Owls have made at least 40 percent of their 3-pointers in three straight games - a statistic that has to please first-year coach Aaron McKie as his team's schedule begins to get tougher. "I have all the confidence in the world," McKie told reporters in reference to his team's shooters. "I would never tell guys not to take those shots, because they practice them. And it’s still early in the season and they’re trying to figure out how they best fit in with our style of play. And they’re starting to learn. They’re starting to get better."

ABOUT UCF (9-3): Collin Smith (13.6 points) paces three double-digit scorers on the season for UCF, which had scored at least 67 points in every game this season before scuffling against the Sooners. UCF shot just 31.3 percent from the floor and missed 16 of its 21 3-point attempts in that contest with Smith (2-of-10) and Brandon Mahan (3-of-11) among those who struggled to find their shooting strokes. "We got away from the things that were successful for us, and we have to learn from that," UCF coach Johnny Dawkins told reporters. "Our guys have been in games like this all year. They have been scrapping and have given us a chance to win all year, including tonight."

TIP-INS

1. Only one of the Knights' top five scorers (Darin Green Jr. - 23) have made double-digit 3-pointers on the season.

2. Temple F De'Vondre Perry ranks second in the AAC in 3-point percentage (51.7 percent).

3. The Owls have nine players averaging at least 12 minutes per game.

PREDICTION: Temple 72, Central Florida 67