Temple @ Houston preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 28, 2017 ) Temple 66, Houston 79

Visiting Temple will have plenty to worry about against a well-rounded Houston squad in Saturday's American Athletic Conference meeting. Houston senior guard Rob Gray, who once again leads the league in scoring, isn't the only playmaker for the Cougars.

The Cougars, who rank second in the AAC in three offensive categories, have five players averaging more than nine points, are strong inside and rebound well. It's a recipe that has helped them win 10 of their past 11 games, including Thursday's conference opener at South Florida. Temple hasn't scored a lot of points during a tough four-game stretch, averaging 67.8 points against Villanova, Drexel, Georgia and Tulane. The Owls have lost three of those games - allowing at least 84 points in those three defeats - but the win was against a Drexel team that beat Houston in November.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT TEMPLE (7-5, 0-1 AAC): Sophomore Quinton Rose leads the Owls with 16.7 points and junior Shizz Alston, Jr. adds 14.9 points. Obi Enechionyia, a 6-10 senior forward, chips in 11.8 points, a team-best 6.6 rebounds and a league-leading two blocks per game. Senior guard Josh Brown, who was second in the league with 4.9 assists in 2015-16 before missing all but five games last year because of an injury, adds 9.1 points and a team-high 3.3 assists.

ABOUT HOUSTON (11-2, 1-0): Gray - the defending league scoring champ - leads the team with 19.9 points and has scored in double figures in 43 straight games. Junior Corey Davis Jr. (11.2 points) and sophomore Armoni Brooks (9.6 points) both shoot well from the 3-point line, with Brooks leading the team at a 49.3 shooting clip. Senior forward Devin Davis adds 11.8 points and 7.1 rebounds for the Cougars, who are second in the AAC in scoring (81 points per game), field-goal shooting (48.2 percent) and 3-point shooting (40.8).

TIP-INS

1. Brooks is 17-of-30 from the 3-point line in his past four games, while Corey Davis Jr. is 13-of-29 during that span.

2. The Cougars enjoy a rebound margin of plus-8.6, outrebounding every opponent except LSU.

3. Temple beat Drexel 63-60 on Dec. 16 after the Cougars lost to Drexel 84-80 on Nov. 17.

PREDICTION: Houston 82, Temple 68