Missouri basketball faces tough Temple team

Missouri basketball heads on the road to battle the Temple Owls.

If Missouri basketball plays like it did earlier this week, tonight’s game is going to be a tough one.

The Tigers get the Temple Owls, one of the top teams in the American Athletic Conference. Both teams come into today’s contest looking to pick up a big victory to bolster their resume while also grabbing some confidence heading into the final portion of nonconference games.

They played each other last year, with Temple coming out with a two-point victory, 79-77. Both teams expect to be better. Here’s a look at tonight’s game:

Records: Temple 6-1; Mizzou 4-4

Where: Liacouras Center in Philadelphia

Time: 6:30 p.m.

How to watch: ESPNU

How to listen: TuneIn

Live stats: mutigers

Line: Temple -2.5 courtesy of the Action Network

Over/under: 127 courtesy of the Action Network

Last year’s record: Temple 23-10; Missouri 15-17

It seems some people believe Tuesday’s outcome against Charleston Southern was a fluke, because Temple is only a few-points favorite over the Tigers, who struggled in their last game. If they play like that, Temple should win by 10.

But I expect Mizzou to play a little better, and if they do that, they could come out with a much-needed win. The Tigers have lost three in a row and sit at .500 on the season.

Temple, meanwhile, has played some tough games, with its only loss coming to No. 3 Maryland. The Owls also dominated SEC member Texas A&M and defeated USC.

They are led by senior guards Quinton Rose and Alani Moore, who both averaged double-digit points a game.

Next up: Missouri comes back home next Sunday to play Southern Illinois.