GAME THREAD: FAU @ ODU - January 25, 2020
What: Florida Atlantic (12-8, 4-3) vs. Old Dominion (7-13, 3-4)
When: Saturday, January 25th, @ 7:00 PM Eastern
Where: Chartway Arena
Series: The Monarchs own a 7-2 edge, despite the Owls winning the previous game a year ago.
TV: None
Stream: ESPN+ *Fee
Radio: FoxSports 640
Live Stats: Here
ODU Team Site: Here
ODU at a Glance:
Offense - 63.2 PPG, 40% FG, 27% 3PT
Defense - 64.3 PPGA, 41% FGA, 34% 3PTA
Rebounding - 38.7 RPG Monarchs, 33.4 RPG Opponents
Notables
The defending C-USA Tournament Champions crawled into conference play having lost 8 straight thanks to a daunting out-of-conference schedule where the Monarchs fell against Illinois, VCU, and Loyola (Chicago), to name a few.
That tough stretch hurt ODU once C-USA play got underway, with the Monarchs dropping four of their last five games. The lone win was a 66-62 victory over Charlotte on Monday.
Last time out, ODU missed a buzzer-beater three-point attempt, allowing FIU to leave Norfolk with an 83-80 victory.
Not known for an overpowering offense, but a stout defense, ODU only has one player, Xavier Green, that is currently in the conference's top-25 highest scorers.
Aaron Carver is the only C-USA ball player averaging over 9 RPG, allowing him to pace the league with 9.5. That average increases to 10.4 RPG when against conference opponents.
As a team, the Monarchs' 40% FG and 27% 3FG places them at the bottom of C-USA in both categories.
FAU at a Glance:
Offense - 72.2 PPG, 43% FG, 34% 3PT
Defense - 68.6 PPGA, 44% FGA, 34% 3PTA
Rebounding - 36.5 RPG Owls, 33.6 RPG Opponents
Notables
FAU continues their road trip northward towards Norfolk following a gut-wrenching loss at Charlotte. The Owls led for over 38 minutes, including having a 14 point advantage with 7:30 remaining before the 49ers launched their comeback with a 13-0 run. Despite falling 70-68, the Owls covered the +5 spread.
This is the second loss in as many games, and the third loss out of the previous four for Dusty May's Owls. The Owls gave up over 50% FG in all three loses, with Middle Tennessee being held to 45.8% in the lone FAU win during that stretch.
Guard Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor saw his PPG rise to 12.7 following a 16-point effort against Charlotte. Forward Jailyn Ingram now joins Taylor as the only other Owl averaging double digits after draining 14 points on Thursday, bumping his average up to exactly 10.0 PPG.
Despite the loss, Richardson Maitre totaled 13 points for his third straight double digit shooting day. His game high 5 assists gives him a team-high 45 this season.
Shockingly, forward Jailyn Ingram leads the ball club in rebounds with 4.4 per game, besting players like Madiaw Niang (4.3), Aleksandar Zecevic (4.2), and Karlis Silins (3.4). FAU rides the median of C-USA in rebounding, placing seventh with their 36.6 RPG.
The Owls currently place sixth and seventh amongst C-USA teams in scoring offense and defense, respectively. Since conference play began at the New Year, FAU's rankings shift to fifth offensively, and ninth defensively.
Opening Line: FAU +4
Additional Links:
2019-2020 FAU Basketball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest
2019-2020 FAU Basketball Season Discussion Thread - FAU Owl's Nest
What team will show up in the second half?
Will we hold on to some of the early game match-up tweaks we have used to gain the lead in recent contests vs teams we were underdogs against for the second half?
Hope so.
Will I eat crow?
Hope not!
Go Owls!
Rick said
Despite the opening line of +4 for FAU, I have us at -1.7 point favorites…
What team will show up in the second half?
Will we hold on to some of the early game match-up tweaks we have used to gain the lead in recent contests vs teams we were underdogs against for the second half?
Hope so.
Will I eat crow?
Hope not!
Go Owls!Posted On: Jan 24th 2020, 9:02 PM #393652
I hope you are right, that last one stung.
I know I am expecting too much too soon with this young team and new coach but we are right there and can’t put together a full game. We are 100% heading in the right direction I think I’m just getting greedy but it’s been a drought in b-ball for so long.
#FAU's Starting Five vs. #ODU:
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 25, 2020
G - Michael Forrest
G - Kenan Blackshear
G - Richardson Maitre
F - Jailyn Ingram
C - Karlis Silins
Forrest, Blackshear, and Silins slotted into the starting lineup vs. the defending #CUSA Tournament champions.
The Owls are heating up!
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 26, 2020
Michael Forrest drains his second three of the night, helping #FAU take their first lead of the game.
FAU leads #ODU 13-11 at the 14:31 mark of the first half. pic.twitter.com/ZwgaXAfS1z
dusky256fc said
I forgot to bring up after the last home game the team went over and gave high fives to the student section and the kids who lined up by the tunnel. Classy move, hope it continues.Posted On: Jan 25th 2020, 3:35 PM #393664
Love that! It's the little things like this that help to build a program.
AND-ONE!
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 26, 2020
Blackshear drains his first bucket of the night before converting the old fashioned three-point play.#ODU leads #FAU 26-24 with 4:01 left in the first half. pic.twitter.com/9h598NYiNb
Yeah, this had been a pretty ugly game so far. The final couple minutes was especially painful as neither team could find the bottom of the net.
HALFTIME. #ODU 31 - #FAU 28.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 26, 2020
Neither side scores in the final two minutes of play. The final bucket came at the 2:09 mark when Scuta Taylor drained a fast-break three to pull the Owls within a possession.
Ingram has a Game High 10 Points.
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