PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — A tightly contested American Athletic Conference race brings a rematch to North Philadelphia on Wednesday as the Temple Owls host the Charlotte 49ers at Liacouras Center.

The matchup features two teams trending in opposite directions within league play. Temple (13-7, 4-3 AAC) has won three of its last four, including a 70-64 road victory at Texas-San Antonio last Saturday. Charlotte (11-9, 5-2), meanwhile, has cooled after a hot start, dropping two of its last three following a five-game conference win streak.

The Owls won the first meeting 76-73 at Charlotte on Dec. 30, a game that saw Temple’s Derrian Ford score 17 points. Ford enters this rematch in strong form, averaging 18.2 points over his last five games and coming off a 21-point, 8-rebound performance against UTSA.

Charlotte will look to sophomore guard Dezayne Mingo to spark its offense. Mingo is averaging 15.1 points and 4.7 assists in conference play, including a 26-point, 10-assist outing in a double-overtime win over Wichita State earlier this month. However, he was held to seven points in the first game against Temple.

The 49ers’ recent struggles have been marked by defensive lapses, allowing an average of 78.6 points in their last three games after holding their first four AAC opponents to 70.5 per contest. Containing Ford and Temple’s backcourt, which also features Aiden Tobiason and Jordan Mason, will be a primary focus.

Temple seeks to protect its home court, where it is 9-2 this season. A win would solidify its position in the upper tier of the AAC standings. Charlotte aims to regain its early-conference form and avenge its narrow December loss to draw even with the Owls in the league loss column.

Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST Wednesday. Temple hosts South Florida next on Saturday, while Charlotte returns home to face Rice on Jan. 31.