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Temple looks to build on Puerto Rico trip

After facing the former No. 1 team in the nation and two others that were ranked at the time, Temple's basketball team returns after a week off for its first home game of the season when the Owls host Delaware in a nonconference game on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Liacouras Center.

After facing the former No. 1 team in the nation and two others that were ranked at the time, Temple's basketball team returns after a week off for its first home game of the season when the Owls host Delaware in a nonconference game on Sunday at 5 p.m. at the Liacouras Center.

The Owls (1-3) have been off since Sunday's 74-68 loss to then-No. 16 Utah in the third-place game of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off.

Delaware (2-1) has been idle since Tuesday's home 73-72 win over Fairleigh Dickinson.

Temple had opened the tournament with a 75-70 win over Minnesota before losing to then-No. 22 Butler, 74-69 in the semifinal.

It continued a brutal early-season schedule that began with a 91-67 loss to a North Carolina team that was No. 1 at the time, but is now No. 8. That game was played at the U.S. Naval Academy.

"I think the fact that we are where we are at the end of the last two games against Butler and Utah speaks a lot to our competitive nature," Temple coach Fran Dunphy said.

Now the key, according to Dunphy, is coming out stronger.

"We were one for our first eight against Utah," Dunphy said. "We could have shot better but I want them to shoot with confidence if it is in the flow of the offense."

Utah's 7-foot sophomore Jakob Poeltl showed why he is a potential lottery pick by totaling 32 points, 11 rebounds and three blocked shots.

"We put him on the line too many times and gave him too many second-chance opportunities," Dunphy said of Poelti, who shot 10 of 12 from the field and 12 of 14 from the foul line.

For Temple, 6-9 sophomore Obi Enechionyia (10.7 ppg.) is still rounding into form. He has played the last three games after missing the opener with an ankle injury.

Temple's leading scorer is senior guard Quenton DeCorsey (15.3 ppg.).

Coached by Philadelphian Monte Ross, Delaware is led by 6-7 redshirt senior Marvin King-Davis (14.3 ppg.) and 6-2 sophomore Kory Holden (13.3 ppg.).

mnarducci@phillynews.com

@sjnard