Drexel @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 15, 2007 ) Temple 64, Drexel 51

After a convincing loss against No. 1 Villanova, Temple might prefer to pick on someone its own size. Three days after the Wildcats clobbered them in the first half, the Owls host Drexel on Saturday.

Temple allowed 25 of the first 30 points in Wednesday's affair and never recovered in an 87-67 defeat to the nation's newly No. 1-ranked team. "You can't make a mistake," coach Fran Dunphy told reporters after the game. "When you do, they take great advantage of it." Quinton Rose was a bright spot for the Owls, continuing his impressive sophomore season with 27 points on 9-of-12 shooting. The 6-8 guard aims for another strong effort against a Drexel team that had its three-game winning streak snapped the last time out.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, ESPN3

ABOUT DREXEL (5-5): The Dragons own an impressive early-season win over Houston - a game in which Tramaine Isabell registered 21 points and 16 rebounds - and the Missouri transfer currently leads the team in both scoring (20.8) and rebounding (8.5). Kurk Lee notched a team-high 15 points in last weekend's 74-60 loss to Robert Morris, but his shooting percentage (34.6) and 3-point percentage (28.3) are both down considerably from his freshman season. Sammy Mojica chips in 12.6 points per game, while Austin Williams has been a hassle for opponents with averages of 10.6 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks on 65.7 percent shooting.

ABOUT TEMPLE (6-3): The Owls needed more help for Rose against Villanova, as Obi Enechionyia and Shizz Alston Jr. combined to shoot 5-of-19 from the field. Enechionyia has a total of seven points in the last two games on 2-of-15 shooting and is 2-of-15 from beyond the arc over his last five outings. Alston had been 11-of-17 from 3-point range over a three-game stretch before missing all four of his 3-point attempts against Villanova.

TIP-INS

1. Rose averages a team-high 18.3 points and has registered multiple steals in four straight games.

2. Drexel has not won at the Liacouras Center since 2006.

3. Temple G Josh Brown has posted double-digit points in three straight games after doing so twice in his first six contests.

PREDICTION: Temple 68, Drexel 61