Temple @ Southern Methodist preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 13, 2019 ) Southern Methodist 74, Temple 82

After winning 12 of its first 14 games, Southern Methodist has lost its last two games and will look to get back on track when it hosts Temple on Saturday night. The American Athletic Conference has been wildly unpredictable thus far, magnified further by Temple's upset win against AAC title contender Wichita State.

The Mustangs will return to Moody Coliseum where they are 9-1 and 2-0 in AAC play, as three of their four losses have come away from their friendly confines. Strong offense has been the key to SMU's success, ranking second in the American scoring 78.4 points per game, though the Mustangs are lacking on defense, permitting six of their last eight opponents, including the last four, to shoot over 40 percent from the floor after allowing the mark just once in the first eight games. But the Owls have struggled to score, averaging a tick over 70 points -- second-worst in the conference, -- while failing to hit the 70-point mark in four of their five AAC games. On the other side of the ball, Temple has a chance to stop the potent SMU offense, as it is second in the AAC and 21st in the nation with a 37.9 field goal percentage defense and leads the conference in limiting opponents to shoot 28.2 percent from 3-point range.

TIME: 8 p.m. ET. TV: ESPNU.

ABOUT TEMPLE (10-6, 2-3 AAC): Senior guard Quinton Rose leads the team with 14.6 points per game, scoring nine or more points in every contest and reaching double digits in all but two, and is averaging 17.3 points in his last three games. Though the only other Owl to average double figures, junior guard Nate Pierre-Louis, does not always light up the scoreboard, he is often stuffing the stat sheet, ranking fifth in the AAC with 9.0 rebounds per game. Though senior Alani Moore II has doubled his scoring from 2018-2019 and is tied for the AAC lead with 2.4 made 3-pointers a game, the guard has struggled of late, averaging 4.2 points his last five games, shooting 28 percent from behind the arc in that span.

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (12-4, 2-2): Point guard Kendric Davis has been the team's best scorer and facilitator, averaging 16.5 points and over seven assists, dishing out five or more helpers in all but one game, and has been named to the AAC Weekly Honor Roll the last two weeks. After reaching double figures in his first 10 games, forward Isiaha Mike's numbers have not been up to par his last four games, with the exception of a 21-point performance against East Carolina, scoring 11 points or fewer in the other three. Big man Feron Hunt averages 13.5 points on 57.5 percent shooting, best on the team and third-best in the AAC, and is the team's leading rebounder, hauling in 7.6 per game.

BUZZER-BEATERS

1. The all-time series between the teams is tied at six wins apiece, with Temple winning the last two meetings.

2. Temple is 10th in the nation with 29.8 defensive rebounds per game.

3. SMU's 77.6 free-throw percentage is best in the AAC ranks12th in the nation.

PREDICTION: SMU 72, Temple 67