GAME NOTES: A pair of 1-0 squads will meet up at the Liacouras Center on Monday night, as the Temple Owls play host to the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs in non-conference action.

Louisiana Tech opened its season on the road on Friday, earning an 85-76 victory over Southern University for its first season-opening win away from home since 2009. It was an impressive start for a Bulldogs squad that went 29-8 a season ago and won the regular-season Conference USA title.

Temple, fresh off its worst season in nearly 40 years (9-22, 4-14 American Athletic Conference), was sluggish offensively in its opener but still managed to escape with a 40-37 victory over American University. It was the Owls' lowest point total in a win since beating Penn State on Feb. 8, 1947, 38-37.

This marks the first-ever meeting between the programs.

The Bulldogs were in danger of an 0-1 start to the season trailing Southern by four midway through the second half, but they regrouped and took control of the game with a 13-2 run. They shot a respectable 44.1 percent from the field, including 8-of-23 from 3-point range, and while their free-throw percentage was far from stellar (.625), they generated plenty of opportunities with 40 attempts. Pacing four teammates in double figures was Alex Hamilton, who scored 18 points to go with six rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. Erik McCree (17 points, eight rebounds) was solid in the frontcourt, and Kenneth Smith and Raheem Appleby netted 15 apiece.

The Owls opened up a 12-point lead at the half in their opener and continued to nurse a comfortable advantage late in the game until American ripped off a 9-0 run to make it a two-point contest with 14 seconds remaining. After a 1- of-2 trip to foul line gave Temple a three-point lead, its defensive effort on the other end prevented American from getting a clean look at a game-tying 3-pointer. Temple made up for a miserable field goal shooting night (.229) with its outstanding defense, holding American to 30.8 percent from the field (including 3-of-23 from 3-point range) while forcing 14 turnovers. Mark Williams narrowly missed a double-double with 11 points and nine rebounds. Daniel Dingle also scored 11, and Will Cummings stuffed the stat sheet with seven points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Temple was fortunate to escape with a victory on Friday, but a repeat performance is unlikely against a Louisiana Tech squad that is much more talented on both ends of the floor than the Owls' previous opponent.