Two City 6 schools will take on conference opponents Thursday night. Let's take a closer look at the matchups.
Temple (13-11, 4-7 AAC) vs. No. 25 SMU (20-4, 10-1 AAC)
9 p.m. at the Liacourus Center on ESPN2
Last time out
Led by Daniel Dingle's career-high 22 points, the Owls topped USF 83-74 last Sunday at the Liacourus Center. Big man Ernest Aflakpui scored a career-high 14 points in the victory, Temple's second straight.
The Owls previously won consecutive games Dec. 17-22, when they defeated NJIT and Yale.
SMU is coming off a 76-53 blowout win over Tulane. Sterling Brown scored a season-high 27 points on 9-of-15 shooting in the victory.
Semi Ojeleye, who ranks third in the American Athletic Conference in points per game, chipped in 17. The win extended the Mustangs' winning streak to six games.
Scouting report
Temple started off conference play 1-6 but has since won three of its last four games entering tonight's contest against SMU.
In those three victories, the Owls shot the three ball at a 37 percent clip. They also currently lead the AAC in three-point field goals made with 214 on the year.
Temple is 2-3 against ranked opponents this season. The last time it beat SMU was an upset last season at the Liacourus Center when the Mustangs were the No. 8-ranked team in the country.
Shizz Alston Jr., Temple's leading scorer, is averaging 18.3 points per game over the last six contests, including 25-point performances against Cincinnati and Tulsa.
If the Owls want to continue their win streak and improve their ranking in the AAC standings, Alston will have to stay hot.
SMU has won 16 of its last 17 games. Over their six-game winning streak, the Mustangs have an average margin of victory of 20.8 points per game. On top of that, they haven't let a team score over 65 points in that six-game stretch. SMU leads the AAC in scoring defense, only letting opponents score 58.6 points per game.
The Mustangs won the first meeting between the teams 79-65 in Dallas on Jan. 4.
What it means
A win would improve Temple's winning streak to three games and its record in the AAC standings. The Owls are currently eighth in the AAC.
A loss for the Mustangs would probably knock them out of their national rankings. SMU just entered the AP Top 25 this week at No. 25.
History
Temple and SMU are meeting for the 10th time. SMU holds a 5-4 advantage over the Owls in the series.
What's next
Temple will travel to play Memphis on Sunday at 2 p.m.
SMU will be home against Cincinnati on Sunday at 3 p.m.
Drexel (8-17, 2-10 CAA) vs. William & Mary (13-10, 7-5 CAA)
7 p.m. at the Daskalakis Athletic Center
Last time out
Drexel fell 79-77 to Hofstra last Saturday at the Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead, New York.
With under a minute left to play, Hofstra went on a 12-0 run to close out the game against the Dragons.
William & Mary had a four-game winning streak snapped after falling 82-80 at Towson last Saturday.
Daniel Dixon put up 23 points for W&M, but it wasn't enough to stop a second-half rally by the Tigers.
Scouting report
Drexel enters this game having lost six of its last seven contests. The Dragons' lone victory in that stretch came in an overtime thriller against Hofstra.
Rodney Williams averages 17.1 points per game, good for third in the Colonial Athletic Association. The senior forward has been one of the bright spots for the Dragons this season. He's scored over 20 points three times in the last five games.
W&M puts up the second-most points in the CAA, averaging 81.6 per game. Dixon leads the way for W&M in points per game, averaging 18.4.
W&M also has the best field goal and three-point shooting percentages in the CAA. Connor Burchfield shoots a deadly 47 percent from three-point range, while Paul Rowley shoots 46 percent.
What it means
A win for Drexel would give the Dragons six conference wins on the year. They currently sit eight games back of UNC Wilmington and Charleston, both of which sit at the top of the conference.
A win for W&M would bring it within two games of UNC Wilmington and Charleston. The Tribe are currently ranked fifth in the conference.
History
Drexel leads the all-time series with the Tribe 21-14. But the Tribe have won the last seven meetings.
W&M won the first meeting of the season 108-85 on Jan. 30.
What's next
Drexel will play Towson on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Dakalakis Athletic Center.
W&M will travel to Williamsburg, Virginia, to play Charleston on Saturday at 2 p.m.