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GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

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What: Florida Atlantic (5-10, 1-1) vs Arkansas-Little Rock (5-11, 2-0)

When: Saturday, Jan. 7th @ 8:00 PM EST

Where: The Jack Stephens Center

TV: None

Live Video: Trojans PPV

Internet Broadcast: Here

Live Stats: Here

Trojans Team Site: Here


Probable Starters:

FAU

G Ray Taylor 9.6 ppg
G Greg Gantt 13.9 ppg
G Omari Grier 10.0 ppg
G Kelvin Penn 2.2 ppg
F Kore White 9.0 ppg


UALR

G D'Andre Williams 11.7 ppg
G Chuck Guy 10.9 ppg
F Taggart Lockhart 4.3 ppg
F Courtney Jackson 6.8 ppg
F Michael Javes 4.2 ppg


The Series

The teams have split the six game all time series at 3-3.

01/27/07 H W 75-71
01/27/08 A L 76-80
03/09/08 N L 60-66
1/29/09 H L 59-66
1/21/10 H W 77-74
1/22/11 H W 88-71

Last time out, the Owls cashed in on the National Stage (ESPN2) with an 88-71 victory at FAU Arena. The Burrow was rocking as Kore White exploded for 22 points and 11 rebounds. He was just one of five Owls in double figures as FAU capitalized on a 42-27 rebounding margin, and 21 assists, to take the contest.


Owls at a Glance

After snapping a five game skid in record setting fashion 58-30 against Louisiana-Monroe, the Owls are hopeful to continue winning ways on their two game road trip into Arkansas. Defense had been lacking in the last three contests, but finally came together against the Warhawks. Chalk it up to lesser competition if you will but the fact of the matter is the opposition performed poorly, and that is just what the doctor ordered at this stage of the season.

"We really, really needed this", said Ray Taylor. "As long as we keep getting stops…that is what we have to hang our hat on."

"What we are trying to do now is that on this team, at this time, we have to get five guys really understanding it is five guys against the ball", coach Mike Jarvis added.

Jarvis has used multiple starting line-ups this year, some with success and some with failure. It's going to be anyone's guess at this point who will take the floor to start on Saturday, although we'll do our best in "guesstimating" with what is listed above. Bottom line, Jarvis appears to be tinkering, as he is famous for, until he finds what he believes will be the best opportunity for an inconsistent 2011-12 team to begin to win consistently.

"I have one player who has not (started)", commented Jarvis after the Owls' win over ULM. "Now, nobody can say they didn’t get a chance."

But one player who should see increased time is Alex Tucker. Tucker has been tapped in limited fashion recently, but Jarvis anticipates using him in a more vital role immediately.

"He has had some problem with his feet and his feet are starting to come around", Jarvis said. "We are going to need him to give us some good, steady leadership this weekend. This is a big trip for us."

The team will once again have little rest in between games, but that is not something they aren't accustomed to.

"The guys should really be happy because we are playing two games in three days because our practices are going to be tougher than any game we play", remarked Jarvis.

The Owls remain dead last in the Sun Belt in FT percentage (61.8%), and 3PT FG percentage defense (39.3%) as well.

However at 67.1 ppg, they sit above both Natural State foes by 3.9 (UALR), and 4.3 (ASU) points respectively.



Trojans at a Glance

With the departures of Solomon Bozeman (16.6 ppg), Alex Garcia-Mendoza (8.9 ppg) and Matt Mouzy (7.9 ppg) from last year's Sun Belt Champion roster, UALR was faced with replacing 49% of their nightly scoring output. Accordingly, that prompted league coaches to tab the Trojans 5th in the west for 2011-12.

Sophomore forward Will Neighbour (6-10, 209) has made an immediate impact in filling that void and was recently name SBC player of the week after a 18.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game average in two impressive road wins at North Texas and Denver. However he suffered a shoulder injury late in the Trojans' win over the Pioneers and is listed as unavailable for Saturday's contest. As the squad's leading scorer and rebounder, that puts a serious dent in the arsenal.

Most recently UALR dropped a 73-51 decision to #2 Kentucky in an affair that had them leading the game 34-31 with 16:28 left to play. The Wildcats turned up the heat immediately thereafter though, notching a 23-1 run as UALR experienced a 10 minute scoring drought.

"I thought our guys played with great effort without Will (Neighbour)", said Trojan Coach Steve Shields. "But we had some guys who stepped up. As we tell our guys, every team’s success is determined by how they handle adversity."

Speaking of success, the Trojans are 5-3 on the season when out rebounding their opponents, and are tops in the league in defensive rebounding percentage (70.8%). They are solid at the line at 70.4% (4th SBC) and get their on a consistent basis as well with the third most attempts in the conference.

But offensive efficiency is not a feather in the cap with UALR occupying the 10 spot in FG percentage (40.7%), and 9th in 3PT percentage (31.8%).

Senior guard D'Andre Williams was named Third-Team All-Sun Belt for the 2011-12 slate back in October.


Latest Line:


FAU -1.5


Owl's Nest Prediction

The lack of Neighbour is a huge swing FAU's way, and likely why they get the nod out of the Land of Sin - despite being on the road where they are less than stellar.

Although last season's contest was a lopsided affair, the rest of the series has been fairly close in margin of victory. With the two squads matching up pretty evenly this go round, expect that trend to return to form on Saturday night with Florida Atlantic nudging past the Trojans in a close one.

The Owls have beat the spread eight times on the season thus far.


FAU -2
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Re: Game Preview: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

Fau wins by 8

It's Owl Time!
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Re: Game Preview: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

PowerOwl said

Fau wins by 8

Pretty bold prediction given our recent level of play and that this is a road game. 

FAU Class of '87
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Re: Game Preview: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

Shoot well from the outside = win…anything other than that and we don't. Simple formula,lol
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Re: Game Preview: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

FAUfasho said

Shoot well from the outside = win…anything other than that and we don't. Simple formula,lol

You need to include rebounding in there too…

We could shoot well, get no boards, and still lose.
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Re: GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

Starters:

FAU

G Ray Taylor
G Shavar Richardson
G Greg Gantt
G Kelvin Penn
F Kore White


UALR

G D'Andre Williams
G Chuck Guy
F Michael Javes
F Taggart Lockhart
F Courtney Jackson
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Re: GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

The Trojans going with a smaller line-up than projected...
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Re: GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

15:59

FAU 3  UALR 5

Another slow start…

Trojans kick it off with a 5-0 run…but Shavar answers with THREE!

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Re: GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

An Owls turnover and easy lay-in for UALR prompts a T/O by Jarvis…

FAU 3  UALR 9
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Re: GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

GAME THREAD: FAU @ Arkansas-Little Rock - 01/07/12 @ 8:00PM

11:23

FAU 7  UALR 11

Thought we had seen the last of the "snail-biters" with ULM!

;D
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