Preview: Temple Leopards at Southwestern Christian Rams

WAXAHACHIE, Texas (Interstat) — The Temple College Leopards and Southwestern Christian College Rams, two men’s junior college basketball teams seeking momentum, will meet Wednesday night in a rematch of a game played just over three weeks ago.

Temple (9-10) enters having won three of its last four, including a 79-75 home victory over Weatherford on Feb. 21. The Leopards previously defeated Southwestern Christian (9-16) 86-73 at home on Feb. 2.

A key player for Temple is guard Harry Bates, who is coming off a strong all-around performance. In the win over Weatherford, Bates scored 15 points, grabbed four rebounds and dished out five assists. He was complemented by Roy Gardner’s 10 rebounds and Jason Ward’s balanced effort.

Southwestern Christian looks to halt a three-game skid, most recently a 100-82 home loss to Ranger on Feb. 21. The Rams have struggled since their Jan. 7 win over Grayson, posting a 2-10 record over their last 12 contests.

The Rams will aim for better defensive results after allowing 100 points in their last outing and 86 to Temple in the previous meeting. Their offense has been inconsistent, failing to reach 70 points in four of their last six games.

Despite the teams’ identical 9-win records, Temple holds a clear recent head-to-head advantage. The Leopards’ current form, including wins in three of their last four, contrasts with the Rams’ extended slump.

A statistical projection from Interstat forecasts a high-scoring, even contest, simulating a 100-100 final score.

For Temple, this game represents a chance to climb above .500 and solidify its standing before hosting McLennan on March 4. Southwestern Christian, which visits Collin County on Saturday, desperately needs a win to reverse its late-season slide.

Tip-off is set for Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026, at Southwestern Christian College.