Can Temple Owls Overcome SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum?

As the Temple Owls prepare to face off against the SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum, fans are eager to see if their team can secure a victory on the road. The upcoming clash scheduled in Dallas is crucial for the Owls, who have shown a mix of resilience and areas for improvement in their recent performances.

In their last game against North Texas Mean Green, the Owls struggled with shooting accuracy, hitting only 31 percent from the field and a concerning 22 percent from beyond the arc. Despite making an impressive 94 percent of free throws, they were outrebounded by nine and lost by a significant margin of 18 points. This defeat highlighted several issues that need addressing, particularly in offensive execution and defensive rebounding.

However, not all trends are negative for Temple. In an earlier matchup with East Carolina Pirates at Liacouras Center, they demonstrated better control over turnovers and improved shooting efficiency with a field goal percentage of 36 percent. They also showed prowess from the free-throw line at 79 percent but fell short by eleven points.

The most promising performance came against Wichita State Shockers where they emerged victorious with strong defensive play marked by fourteen steals and two blocks while maintaining decent shooting percentages across the board (38 percent FGs and 32 percent three-pointers). Their ability to convert turnovers into points was evident as both teams scored seventeen points off turnovers.

Looking ahead to their encounter with SMU Mustangs, it's clear that consistency will be key for Temple. They must leverage their defensive strengths while enhancing offensive production to overcome challenges posed by playing away from home turf.

Fans can catch this exciting game live on ESPN+ on January 17th at 7:00 PM Central Time (8:00 PM Eastern Time) as part of an internet broadcast event. Will Temple Owls rise above recent setbacks to claim victory? Only time will tell as we anticipate an intense battle on court at Moody Coliseum.