Temple @ La Salle preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 11, 2016 ) La Salle 92, Temple 97

After winning the Charleston Classic, Temple returns to more familiar terrain Sunday when it visits La Salle in Big 5 action. The Big 5 features an annual round-robin of matchups between five schools located in the Philadelphia area, and the Owls have defeated the Explorers in 19 of the last 23 meetings.

Temple is 3-0 for the first time since 2012-13 after defeating Old Dominion, Auburn and Clemson to capture the title in Charleston. "It's a great way to start the season," said Obi Enechionyia, who scored 12 points against Clemson and was named the event's most outstanding player. "We've worked all offseason for this." The Owls forced 18 turnovers against the Tigers and hope to create similar havoc against the Explorers, who have increased their turnovers in each game during their three-game losing streak. They committed eight in a loss to Northwestern, then 10 against Boston College and finally 15 in Wednesday's setback against Miami (Fla.).

TV: 5 p.m. ET, NBC Sports Network

ABOUT TEMPLE (3-0): If the Charleston Classic is any indication, Temple will have a three-headed offensive attack with Shizz Alston Jr., Quinton Rose and Enechionyia leading the show. Alston is converting 57.1 percent of his field-goal attempts to begin the season after shooting 40.8 percent last year, and his 3-point percentage (56.3) is way up as well. Enechionyia has drained multiple 3-pointers in each game, while Rose was 5-of-8 beyond the arc in the win over Auburn.

ABOUT LA SALLE (3-3): The Explorers have seen their points decline in the last four games - from 81 to 74 to 61 to a disappointing 46-point effort against Miami. They shot 28.8 percent as a team and no player on the entire squad made more than 33.3 percent of his shots, plus La Salle missed all 15 of its 3-pointers. B.J. Johnson, who averages 21.7 points and 10.7 rebounds, was limited to 6-of-20 shooting but still racked up 16 points and 16 boards in a losing effort.

TIP-INS

1. Enechionyia needs two points to become the 52nd Temple player to reach 1,000 for his career.

2. Alston is 14-of-14 from the foul line this season.

3. In the last meeting, the Owls defeated the Explorers 97-92 in overtime a season ago behind Alston's seven points in the extra session.

PREDICTION: Temple 79, La Salle 66