USM Comes to The Burrow for Massive CUSA Tilt

What: FAU (13-9, 4-5) vs. Southern Miss (13-9, 5-5)

When: Saturday, Feb. 2nd @ 4:00 PM Eastern

Where: FAU Arena

Series: FAU is 2-3 all time against USM, with the Golden Eagles winning last season's game 77-66.


TV: None

Live Video: CUSA.tv (FEE)

Radio: ESPN 106.3

Southern Miss Team Site: Here



Golden Eagles at a Glance:

Offense – 72.7 PPG, 46% FG, 37% 3PT

Defense – 64.2 PPGA, 40% FGA, 32% 3PTA

Rebounding - 36.5 PG, 36.8 PG Opponents


Notables

The Southern Miss Golden Eagles enter Saturday’s winners of two straight. Both wins were against C-USA's highest scoring teams: Marshall and FIU. Currently, USM sits in the middle of the conference standings in seventh place.
 
The bulk of USM's scoring comes from the backcourt duo of Cortez Edwards and Tyree Griffin, both of whom are in their senior seasons. Edwards leads the team in scoring, averaging just below 14 PPG. The Kissimmee native is also USM's leading assist man, including averaging 8 APG in their last three contests.

Tyree Griffin is coming off an 18 point performance vs. FIU.  At 5"10', Griffin uses his athleticism to force trouble defensively. That includes collecting 4 steals against WKU last week.

Defensively, USM has improved mightily from their previous two seasons. Their 64.2 opponent's PPG makes them the third stingiest defense in CUSA.



Owls at a Glance:

Offense – 73.2 PPG, 41% FG, 32% 3PT

Defense - 70.0 PPGA, 42% FGA, 32% 3PTA

Rebounding - 40.9 PG, 35.9 PG Opponents


Notables

Winners of two straight, the Owls are getting hot at the right time. The wins came against two sides that sit above FAU in the standings, FIU and Louisiana Tech, have allowed Dusty May's squad to pull within two wins from the top spot in the conference.

We are watching Mississippi State transfer Xavian Stapleton grow in front of our eyes, having averaged 21 points in the last 3 home games. Stapleton had 19 points and 9 rebounds Thursday against his (and Dusty May's) old program. He has been an anchor since recovering from his knee injury.

Still, the injury bug continues to plague the Owls. Richardson Maitre was absent from Thursday's game with a concussion. It is unknown if he will play Saturday. If he does play, Maitre will see limited minutes. Therefor, expect Freshman Kevaughn Ellis to see an increase in playing time.


Opening Line: Even

This is NOT a typo. If the Owls win this evening, and a few teams above FAU lose, then we will be ONE WIN away from the conference's top spot.

What a crazy year it's been in CUSA Basketball!

Less than 30 minutes away from tipoff at The Burrow. With a victory, #FAU or #USM could come within onE WIN from #CUSA's top spot.

Oh, and it's @FAU_Owlsley's BIRTHDAY! #GoOwls and #HBDOwlsley!

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

We see Cedric Jackson take Kevaughn Ellis's starting spot, who took Richardson Maitre's starting spot, who took Jaylen Sebree's starting spot, who took Jailyn Ingram's starting spot.

*takes deep breath*

Welcome to 2018-2019 Florida Atlantic Basketball!

Interesting Starting Five for #FAU:

PG - Michael Forrest

SG - Anthony Adger

SF - Cedric Jackson

PF - Simeon Lepichev

C - Aleksandar Zecevic

*Jackson gets his first start. The Orlando native is listed as a guard, but he's much more of a 2/3 hybrid than a 1 or a 2.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

Speaking of Maitre, he is not dressed for the second straight game.

As y'all could surmise from his absence from the staring five, Richardson Maitre is OUT. Having suffered a concussion earlier this week, Maitre is not dressed for the second straight game.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

We're underway from The Burrow!

GAME on from The Burrow! #FAU has a FANTASTIC opportunity to sneak their way into #CUSA's top-five "pod" for the end of regular season Bonus Play. pic.twitter.com/ZaTWil9jkL

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

Adger scored just 10 seconds into the game. We need to find a way to have him stay one more year.

14:38 1H | #FAU 8 - #USM 8

We're even as we hit the first media stoppage of the day. Adger leads all scorers with five points.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

The Owls were SOARIN' to a 16-10 lead… Then a two minute FAU scoring drought has allowed the Golden Eagles to climb back.

11:11 1H | #USM 17 - #FAU 16

11:11, MAKE A WISH!

*I wish USM didn't just go on a 7-0 run to take the lead*

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

 

The Owls offense is now colder than the midwest was earlier this week.

7:55 1H | #USM 21 - #FAU 19

A Cedric Jackson three-pointer ends the FAU scoring drought. That's his first points of the contest, and the Owls only FG in their last nine attempts.

🙃🙃🙃🙃

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

Owls are shooting better, now at 38%, but that's small time compared to USM's 71%.

3:08 1H | #USM 32 - #FAU 27

Owls have struggled to get within two points of the Golden Eagles since the midway point of the first half. That's what happens when your opponents are shooting 71% FG.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019

We've played 20 at The Burrow. The last three minutes or so have been… rough.

HALFTIME | #USM 38 - #FAU 27

Owls go the final three and a half minutes of the half without a single point. That's KILLER when the Golden Eagles are shooting 68%.

Adger leads FAU with 8 points. But USM's Tyree Griffin is GOING OFF with 16 points & 88% shooting.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 2, 2019