Being on winter break doesn’t mean you can’t get your fill of Owls action. The Temple men’s and women’s basketball teams are off to great starts this season, and there are plenty of opportunities to cheer on both between semesters, as the teams will play several home games during the break.

The men’s team posted wins over ranked opponents on consecutive days for the first time in school history to win the National Invitation Tournament Season Tip-Off in November, and is currently 8-4. The women’s team recently upset No. 16 DePaul and is off to a 7-3 start.

Both teams’ winter break games will kick off with back-to-back contests Thursday, Dec. 22, when the women host Fairfield at 2 p.m. and the men host Yale at 7 p.m. Students attend all home games for free -- just show your Owl Card when you walk in the Liacouras Center or McGonigle Hall.

Here are all your chances to catch the teams at home before the spring semester:

Dec. 22
2 p.m. | Women’s Basketball vs. Fairfield (OwlsTV)
7 p.m. | Men’s Basketball vs. Yale (ESPNU)

Dec. 28
9 p.m. | Men’s Basketball vs. No. 23 Cincinnati (ESPNU)
Conference opener; all-you-can-eat hot dogs, chips or popcorn and soft beverage starting at $25 (includes game ticket)

Jan. 7
Noon | Men’s Basketball vs. East Carolina (TCN)
Ring of Honor ceremony for John Baum and Jim Williams; first 1,000 fans receive a Temple knit cap, courtesy of Philadelphia Federal Credit Union

Jan. 8
1 p.m. | Women’s Basketball vs. Tulane (ESPN2)
Conference home opener

Jan. 11
7 p.m. | Women’s Basketball vs. East Carolina (American Digital Network)

Jan. 14
4 p.m. | Men’s Basketball vs. Tulsa (ESPNews)
Ring of Honor ceremony for John DiSangro, Essie Davis and Jim Maloney; kids ages 14 and younger can score a basket on the court after the game

Be a student for the break
Temple fans can take advantage of the "Be a Student for the Break" eight-ticket package on sale now for $40. Fans can use up to two tickets in the student section per game at a choice of four games during winter break, including Yale (Dec. 22), Cincinnati (Dec. 28), East Carolina (Jan. 7) and Tulsa (Jan. 14). Tickets can be purchased by calling 215-204-TIXX.

Tickets for all Temple men’s and women’s basketball games can be purchased via phone at 1-800-298-4200, online at OwlsTix.com or in person at the Liacouras Center.

—Larry Dougherty