GAME THREAD: FAU @ UNT - January 11, 2020
What: Florida Atlantic (11-5, 3-0) vs. North Texas (8-8, 2-1)
When: Saturday, January 11th, @ 4:00 PM Eastern
Where: The UNT Coliseum
Series: UNT owns a 12-6 advantage over the Owls, despite FAU winning three straight.
TV: None
Stream: ESPN+ *Fee
Radio: FoxSports 640
Live Stats: Here
UNT Team Site: Here
UNT at a Glance:
Offense - 69.9 PPG, 46.8% FG, 38.2% 3PT
Defense - 63.2 PPGA, 40.7% FGA, 32% 3PTA
Rebounding - 34.2 RPG Mean Green, 29.4 RPG Opponents
Notables
In what is being billed as the C-USA Game of the Week, the Mean Green return to the Super Pit after their 74-56 thrashing of FIU. This time, they will take on the conference's current leader, the Florida Atlantic Owls.
UNT's .500 overall record is misleading when considering the quality of their opponents. The Mean Green are working with the 84th hardest strength-of-schedule in the nation, which ranks best in C-USA. In out-of-conference play, UNT's first 11 opponents had a combined winning percentage of .667 (72-36), making it the 32nd hardest schedule in the country during that span.
Since conference play began at the New Year, UNT leads the league in FGs (51.2%), 3Pts (39.7%), and rebounding defense (27.3 Opponent RPG).
Sophomore guard Umoja Gibson leads UNT in PPG with 14.1. Meanwhile junior guard Javion Hamlet is second on the team with 11.3 PPG and third in C-USA with 4.2 APG.
FAU at a Glance:
Offense - 72.2 PPG, 43% FG, 34% 3PT
Defense - 66.1 PPGA, 43% FGA, 32% 3PTA
Rebounding - 37.6 RPG Owls, 33.4 RPG Opponents
Notables
The Owls will conclude their Texas Two-Step with a visit to the "Super Pit," on the campus of UNT. A place unkind to FAU as the Owls have only won two out of eight games played in Denton.
FAU kicked-off their Texas swing by squeaking out a thrilling 81-76 victory over Rice. The Owls from Houston climbed back from a 22-point deficit with a pair of 12-0 runs in the second half. Rice took the lead for the first time with four minutes remaining in the contest, but FAU quickly countered to seal the win.
In the victory, Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor matched a collegiate career record high with 34 points. The Division-II Lincoln Memorial grad transfer netted 34 on the first of December, 2018, against fellow Division-II side, Coker University.
Star forward Jailyn Ingram did not play against Rice, due to suffering concussion like symptoms following a collision with a teammate at practice. As of Friday night, it is unknown if he will suit up for court action against UNT. In his place, freshman forward and Kosovo national Dardan Kapiti scored a career high 10 points.
Opening Line: FAU +7.5
Additional Links:
2019-2020 FAU Basketball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest
2019-2020 FAU Basketball Season Discussion Thread - FAU Owl's Nest
For what it's worth, I wouldn't put anything down on the Owls considering uncertainty surrounding Ingram.
Zecevic replaces Niang from Thursday's lineup, with Silins shifting to the #4 slot.
#FAU's Starting Five vs. #UNT:
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
G - Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor
G - Richardson Maitre
G - Everett Winchester
F - Karlis Silins
C - Aleksandar Zecevic
Zecevic is the only addition to the lineup from Thursday's victory at #Rice, replacing Niang. Silins shifts to the #4 slot.
BREAKING: Jailyn Ingram is OUT for tonight's game vs. #UNT with concussion-like symptoms.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
He is expected to return Thursday vs. #MTSU.
And take warming up literally, there's snow on the ground in the Dallas area Mertroplex.
Yep, no Ingram on the court while the team warms up.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
Tough break for #FAU is we get set for a difficult game against #UNT.
Special thanks to @RalphL001 for sending us this photo LIVE from the Super Pit! pic.twitter.com/hEJfXCUjYc
Silins drains one for THREE!
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
The big man drops the first triple of the game and the Owls lead! Five different Owls are on the score sheet, all with a single FG.#FAU leads #UNT 11-10 with 13:05 remaining in the first half. pic.twitter.com/tCzEfctBjA
The Kosovar Sky-Scrapper™️ is feeling it in the Lone Star State!
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
Two days removed from setting a new career record in points, Dardan Kapiti scores his second FG of the contest with this basket.#FAU still leads #UNT 17-16 with 7:50 left in the half. pic.twitter.com/YWCx6evzXJ
Dusty May calls for a timeout after three #FAU turnovers aid a 9-0 #UNT run over the last minute and a half.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
UNT guard James Reese is responsible for all 9 UNT points during this run.
Mean Green now lead 25-18 with 6:30 left in the half.
The Kosovar Sky-Scrapper leads the team with 8 points as he's 4-4 shooting.
HALFTIME. #UNT 36 - #FAU 29.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020
An ugly, ugly end to the half for both sides.
The Mean Green fail to score in the final 3:04 of the half, while the Owls have a scoring drought from the final 2:48.
11 Owls have seen action on the court, and Kapiti leads them with 8 points.
Recent Forum Posts
Put up good numbers last season. I like the jump he made from…
Got a key visit taking place this week with the Owls hosting L…
I’m expecting our team to come together last-minute. The porta…
Owls look to secure series win on the road against Miami…
International players will still get NIL. Teams usually backch…