SERIES THREAD: FAU vs. Charlotte - January 22 & 23, 2021
Here are tonight's Quick Hits from the Owls' exhilarating 66-53 win.
Quick Hits
- Dusty May is in quarantine, unable to coach this weekend's series due to a positive COVID-19 test result within his household. The news coming to players and staff mere hours before tonight's tipoff. Assistant coach Akeem Miskdeen has been tapped as Acting Head Coach during May's absence.
- Akeem Miskdeen said he hasn't lead a team since "either 2008 or 2009 with an AAU team in Chicago." When asked if he's going to celebrate his first win as a Division I head coach, albeit in a temporary position, he laughed as he said, "You know what I'm about to do? I'm about to go check on the film so we can win tomorrow. And if we win tomorrow, then I'll celebrate with my daughter and my wife!"
- Michael Forrest had his second 20+ point performance in a row, draining a team-high 21 points tonight. Despite a slow start to the season, the Blanche Ely High School product's confidence has been propelled by the team's unwavering support in the him. "Everybody in our locker room believes in Mike. If he goes 0-7, we want him to shoot an eighth shot," Miskdeen explained. "He is one of the hardest working players in FAU history."
- FAU's 16-0 Run catapulted the Owls into the lead late in the second half. FAU never trailed again from that point on. Forrest drained three-straight three-pointers to get the bench and the fans in attendance at The Burrow fired up. Although Charlotte forced the game to overtime, FAU's 16-3 OT scoring margin gave the Owls their first OT win since January 16, 2020 against Middle Tennessee.
- Commanding the Bench is a sign ofship veteran leader. Miskdeen said there are no shortages of those type of players at FAU. "Him (Karlis Silins), Jailyn Ingram BJ (Greenlee) and Mike (Forrest) had command of the bench in the second half; it was their bench. They were running the stuff and giving the guys life and energy."
- The C-USA Standings must look good to Owl Nation! Currently standing alone in third place in C-USA East, the Owls will draw level to Old Dominion at second place with another FAU win tomorrow. ODU will be stagnant this week as their series with North Texas has been postponed. And while unlikely, a Western Kentucky loss to rival MTSU paired with an FAU win tomorrow, and the Owls will be in a three-ay tie with ODU and WKU atop the division.
NEXT: FAU will host Charlotte for game 2, tomorrow at 4 PM.
What: Florida Atlantic (8-6, 3-2) vs. Charlotte (6-7, 2-3)
When: Saturday, January 23, @ 4 PM
Where: Abessinio Court at FAU Arena
Series: Charlotte now has a one win advantage over FAU in the all time series following the Owls' overtime victory Friday night.
Charlotte Team Site: Here
TV: None
Stream: ESPN+ *Subscription Required
Radio: FoxSports 640
Live Stats: Here
Records and stream links have been updated for Game Two of the Charlotte series. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
Head Coach Dusty May will not be on the sidelines for the Owls for the second straight game. A positive coronavirus test result within the May household will force May to be away from the team for at least a week. Assistant Coach Akeem Miskdeen has been named Acting Head Coach until May returns.
#FAU can complete their second straight series sweep & continue climbing the #CUSA standings with a win over @CharlotteMBB.@FAUMBB's Starting 5⃣ 🆚 #CLT, Game ✌️ ⬇️
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 23, 2021
G - BJ Greenlee
G - Michael Forrest
G - Kenan Blackshear
F - Jailyn Ingram
F - Karlis Silins#GoOwls! 👌 pic.twitter.com/XbHIQz6gti
Despite multiple mismatches against him on both sides of the court, @M_ke1135 goes coast ➡️ coast with the steal and the layup! #FAU leads #CLT 11-9 | 11:35 1H pic.twitter.com/BEDn15eclA
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 23, 2021
😳 Not good 😳
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 23, 2021
JI heads to the lockerroom after picking up an injury in his left leg while attempting a layup. Hope you're alright, @2easyJ_! 🙏#CLT leads #FAU 25-17 | 5:50 1H pic.twitter.com/xUFTcpzJ4B
HALFTIME | #CLT 39 - #FAU 29
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 23, 2021
Ingram makes an early exit after picking up a knock mid layup. His status to return is unknown.
Although Charlotte has looked the better side since, they've made the mistake of leaving @kbuckets11 wide open along the arc. He has a team-high 7 PTS. pic.twitter.com/VL1VjjN4eh
Looks like Ingram's day is done. He did not participate in #FAU's second half warm ups.
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 23, 2021
Tough break for such a great young man and @FAUMBB. Get well soon, JI! 👊👊 pic.twitter.com/nXn5NIpNGC
Somebody call the fire department because we have another #ForrestFire! 🔥🌳🔥#CLT leads #FAU 49-47 | 10:25 2H pic.twitter.com/gBLBDZrXSV
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 23, 2021
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