GAME THREAD: FAU @ MTSU - January 5, 2019
FAU Hoops Look To Beat MTSU for First Time Since 2011
What: FAU (9-5, 0-1) vs. Middle Tennessee (3-11, 0-1)
When: Saturday, Jan. 5th @ 6:00 PM Eastern
Where: Murphy Center
Series: The Blue Raiders have dominated the Owls to a 19-4 all-time series record. FAU has not beaten MTSU since January 27th, 2011.
TV: None
Live Video: ESPN+ (FEE)
Radio: ESPN 106.3
MTSU Team Site: Here
Blue Raiders at a Glance:
Offense – 65.9 PPG, 41% FG, 30% 3PT
Defense - 76.4 PPGA, 44% FGA, 37% 3PTA
Rebounding - 38.6 PG, 36.2 PG Opponents
Notables
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. With only one win over a Division I opponent, this is not the same Middle Tennessee program that Kermit Davis built into a mid-major power. That is partially because Kermit Davis left Murfreesboro to become the Head Coach at Ole Miss. Davis was not the only Blue Raider to leave the program this offseason as MTSU saw most of their 2017-2018 roster exit via graduation, transfer, or be dismisal. That includes Tyrik Dixon and Antwain Johnson, a pair of players who were expected to lead the Blue Raiders into a new era.
New Head Coach Nick McDevitt, and many in Blue Raider nation, knew this season was going to be a rebuilding experiment. But the results and stats coming out of Murphy Center do not match their low expectations. Out of 351 Division I basketball programs, MTSU ranks #330 in scoring, #347 in turnovers, and #287 in three-point defense.
Despite those bad stats, not all is lost in Murfreesboro. The Blue Raiders are one of the nation’s best rebounding teams, clocking in at #75. Guard Antonio Green is #71 in the nation in PPG, just ahead of FAU’s injured Jailyn Ingram. The two stars have 19.1 and 18.9 PPG, respectively. PF/C Karl Gamble leads MTSU’s sound rebounding efforts with 7 RPG. He is two boards away from 100 rebounds on the season.
Owls at a Glance:
Offense - 73.2 PPG, 42% FG, 31% 3PT
Defense - 69.1 PPGA, 41FGA, 30% 3PTA
Rebounding - 41.8 PG, 36.3 PG Opponents
Notables
Dusty May’s Owls will complete their four game road trip in a venue where program has failed to win in seven years. The road trip kicked off on 12/22 in Coral Gables, where a strong second half effort was not enough to comeback against Miami. A resilient overtime win over Illinois drew the Owls road trip even. Most recently, FAU opened conference play with a disappointing 17-point loss at UAB. A win in Murfreesboro will allow the Owls to go .500 on a road trip that not many expected FAU to get a single win in.
Unfortunately, the injury bug continues to bounce around the FAU locker-room. Top scorer and rebounder SF Jailyn Ingram is out for the remainder of the season after tearing his ACL. It is unknown if PF Xavian Stapleton (knee injury) and SF Jaylen Sebree (shoulder injury, sustained on Thursday) will dress against the Blue Raiders. That means FAU’s first, third, and fourth best scorers could be out for an extended period as the Owls enter conference play.
Therefore, FAU will rely heavily on PG/SG hybrid Anthony Adger for their main offensive output. The senior is second in scoring with 15 PPG, while leading the guards with 39% FG and 37% 3FG%.
FAU big men Madiaw Niang, Simeon Lepichev, and Karlis Silins will need big days to counter FAU over-relying on their backcourt.
Opening Line: FAU +2
Dusty May is going with a BIG starting lineup vs. #MTSU:
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
PG - Michael Forrest
SG - Anthony Adger
SF - Simeon Lepichev
PF - Madiaw Niang
C - Aleksandar Zecevic
Bad news: SF Sebree (SF Ingram's replacement) could be out for the remainder of the season.
#FAU Basketball injury update:
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
Xavian Stapleton - Expect him to get some minutes tonight vs. #MTSU
Jaylen Sebree - Head Coach Dusty May said Sebree will "be out for the foreseeable future." May went as far to say his season may be done.
Adger and Forrest have already switched positions, and we're only two minutes in. Expect those two to bounce back-and-forth between PG & SG as the night goes on.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
15:18 1H | #MTSU 9 - #FAU 6
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
Awkward start for the Owls who are still trying to find their rhythm, shooting 2-8 so far from the floor.
WELCOME BACK X!!
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
Xavian Stapleton's first basket back from a month long injury is a MONSTER slam over a Middle Tennessee defender. Oh how we have missed that!
Welcome back Xavian Stapleton! 😳 pic.twitter.com/8i4mHwBJvm
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
7:29 1H | #MTSU 24 - #FAU 12
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
Let's recap the last seven FG attempts for each team:
Owls: 1-7
Blue Raiders: 6-7
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
3:55 1H | #MTSU 27 - #FAU 16
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 5, 2019
Owls FINALLY get a bucket after going 4:35 without a score.
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