Cincinnati @ Temple preview

Last Meeting ( Jan 24, 2018 ) Temple 42, Cincinnati 75

Cincinnati and Temple have emerged as two of the top contenders in the American Athletic Conference. They match up Sunday afternoon on Temple's home court, where the Owls will be looking to slow Bearcats guard Jarron Cumberland.

There are four one-loss teams in league play with Cincinnati having won five games in a row, including a 24-point win over Tulsa its last time out. Bearcats coach Mick Cronin knows that the game against the Owls is a big one for his team, saying: "You've got to win certain kinds of games if you want respect. Our schedule's back-loaded. We've got a lot of tough games." Temple has won its last five league games, suffering only a surprising home loss to Ivy League foe Pennsylvania during that stretch. The Owls topped Memphis in their last outing, posting an 85-76 triumph behind Quinton Rose's 26 points.

TV: Noon ET, CBS Sports Network

ABOUT CINCINNATI (17-3, 6-1 American): The Bearcats rely heavily on Cumberland (18.1 points per game), who has attempted 97 more shots than anyone else on the team. The junior guard was 5-of-10 from 3-point range against Tulsa and is averaging 24.3 points over the last four outings. Justin Jenifer made six 3-pointers against Tulsa and has only committed 13 turnovers in 485 minutes this season, less than one per game.

ABOUT TEMPLE (15-4, 5-1): The Owls had to be delighted to see Rose go 5-of-9 from 3-point range against Memphis after he entered the game just 15-of-77 from beyond the arc. Shizz Alston Jr. was only 2-of-13 from the floor against Memphis and is 7-of-31 over the last two games. Nate Pierre-Louis continued his solid play of late with 15 points, giving him eight straight games in which he has scored between 13 and 22 points.

TIP-INS

1. Temple C Ernest Aflakpui (6.7 points, 7.5 rebounds) is averaging 13.3 points and 11.7 rebounds in the last three games.

2. The Bearcats only have two primary threats from 3-point range - Cumberland (49 makes) and Jenifer (35).

3. Cincinnati won both meetings with Temple last season, including a buzzer-beating win in Philadelphia.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 70, Temple 62