PHILADELPHIA (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season test for two Philadelphia men’s college basketball programs arrives Saturday when Temple visits Saint Joseph’s at The Palestra. Both the Owls (4-4) and Hawks (4-3) enter the city rivalry matchup looking to build momentum after inconsistent starts. The game tips off at 12:30 p.m. EST in the historic arena. Temple seeks to rebound from a 56-74 road loss at Villanova on Monday. The Owls have struggled away from home, dropping all four games outside their own arena this season. Guard Aiden Tobiason has been a consistent bright spot, averaging 14.3 points per game. He scored 15 in the loss to Villanova and had a season-high 21 points in a win over Hofstra on Nov. 19. Saint Joseph’s is coming off a narrow 60-58 home victory over Princeton last Sunday, which snapped a two-game skid. The Hawks are 3-0 at home this season. They are led by dynamic guard Deuce Jones, who is averaging 19.7 points per game. Jones nearly posted a double-double against Princeton, finishing with 17 points and nine rebounds. He opened the season with a 29-point performance in a win over Drexel. The matchup features a contrast in styles. Temple’s offense, when clicking, has shown potency, scoring 90 points in wins over La Salle and Rhode Island. However, defensive lapses have led to four losses where opponents scored at least 74 points. Saint Joseph’s has shown resilience in close games but was blown out in its two major road tests at Virginia Tech and UNLV. History adds weight to the contest. The Palestra, a neutral site for this meeting, is the traditional home of Big 5 basketball, the round-robin series among Philadelphia’s Division I schools. Both programs are eager to claim early bragging rights in the city. For Temple, stabilizing its play on the road is the immediate concern. For Saint Joseph’s, protecting its home court and building a winning streak is the goal. The guard duel between Temple’s Tobiason and Saint Joseph’s Jones could dictate the tempo and determine which team emerges above .500.