FACTS & STATS: Boardwalk Hall (10,500) -- Atlantic City, New Jersey. Television: ESPN2. Home Record: Duquesne 10-5, Temple 9-2. Away Record: Duquesne 8-6, Temple 9-8. Neutral Record: Duquesne 3-0, Temple 3-1. Conference Record: Duquesne 9-7, Temple 11-5. Series Record: Temple leads, 37-13.

GAME NOTES: The fourth-seeded Temple Owls will try to repeat as Atlantic 10 Tournament champions this evening, as they take on the seventh-seeded Duquesne Dukes in the title game at Boardwalk Hall.

The Owls advanced to their record 15th championship game appearance courtesy of a 55-53 upset of top-seeded and 19th-ranked Xavier in the semifinals on Friday. The victory improved Temple to 48-19 all-time in this tourney and that takes into account a 79-65 besting of fifth-seeded Saint Joseph's in the quarterfinal round on Thursday. The Owls have won a record seven A-10 Tournament crowns, including a 69-64 win over Saint Joseph's in the finals last season, and are gunning for back-to-back titles for the first time since 2000-01.

As for Duquesne, it has had a remarkable run, winning three games in as many days to reach the finals for the first time since 1981. The Dukes opened tourney play with a 91-81 victory over 10th-seeded UMass and followed that up with a 78-74 upset of second-seeded Rhode Island in the quarterfinals. On Friday, Duquesne avenged two earlier losses to Dayton with a 77-66 victory over the third-seeded Flyers in semifinal-round play. The Dukes are now 19-29 all-time in this event, winning their lone title in 1977.

In terms of the all-time series, Temple owns a 37-13 advantage over Duquesne and has won 13 of the last 15 encounters, including a 78-73 victory in the lone meeting during the regular season.

The Dukes connected on 53.1 percent of their attempts from the floor and 10- of-26 from beyond the arc, as they upended Dayton in the semifinals on Friday. Duquesne held a 15-7 edge in free-throw points as well as forcing Dayton into 16 turnovers. Melquan Bolding went 7-of-10 from three-point range on his way to 24 points, and Aaron Jackson also finished with 24 points, to go with five assists. Jackson ranks as the squad's top scorer on the season at 18.4 ppg and he also grabs 5.6 rpg and distributes a team-high 5.7 apg. Damian Saunders adds 13.3 ppg and a team-best 7.5 rpg to the lineup, while Bill Clark puts forth 13.0 ppg on 39.7 percent shooting from three-point land.

Dionte Christmas poured in 20 points and made a pair of clutch three-pointers in the final two minutes to lift the Owls past Xavier in semifinal-round action on Friday. Lavoy Allen added a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds for Temple, which forced 15 turnovers and held a 15-5 advantage in points at the foul line. Christmas also played a big part in the stingy defense by the Owls, as he recorded four of the team's nine steals. On the season, Christmas not only leads the Owls in steals (47), but he also tops the roster in scoring with a hardy average of 18.9 ppg. He is also collecting 5.9 rpg and doling out 3.0 apg, displaying his versatility. Allen logs 11.0 ppg and a team-best 8.8 rpg for Temple, while Ryan Brooks delivers 10.6 ppg behind 40.6 percent shooting from downtown.

Behind the efforts of Christmas and another sound defensive performance, look for the Owls to top a Duquesne club that could be a bit worn down from playing four games in as many days.

Predicted Outcome

Temple 71, Duquesne 62