FAU Looks for Record Start Against Eagles


What: Florida Atlantic (6-1, 0-0 C-USA) vs. Eastern Michigan (2-6, 0-0 MAC)

When: Sunday, December 4th, @ 2:30 PM

Where: George Gervin GameAbove Center

Series: First meeting between the teams


TV: ESPN+

Radio: FoxSports 640

Live Stats: Here

Latest Line: FAU -9.5


Eagles Team Site: Here


EMU at a Glance

Offense - 76 PPG, 45% FG, 36% 3PT

Defense - 81 PPGA, 49% FGA, 34% 3PTA

Rebounding - 33 RPG, 35 RPG Opponents


FAU at a Glance

Offense - 77 PPG, 48% FG, 38% 3PT

Defense - 63 PPGA, 38% FGA, 31% 3PTA

Rebounding - 40 RPG, 36 RPG Opponents


Owl Notables

Another game on tap for the surging FAU men's basketball team, and this one has some significance, as they can grab the best start to a season in program history (7-1) with a win. Additionally, unlike years prior, the current mark is clean - with only one contest against non division one talent.

FAU is leading Conference USA teams in defensive rebounds with just over 29 hauls a game, and are third in three point baskets with 9.43 per contest. On the offensive glass, reserve forward Giancarlo Rosado (photo below) is pulling down 2.57 grabs each outing (4th C-USA).



The Owls currently have an RPI if 27, and have non-conference wins over squads at 89 (Bryant), 98 (Detroit Mercy), 120 (South Alabama), 220 (Florida), 302 (Albany).

They continue to get solid all around performances up and down the bench at all positions, which in turn makes it difficult for Coach Dusty May to call out any specific player for their efforts.

"In all honesty it's been a different guy each night, and that's the unique part of our team is that we are so deep and capable, we've had so many players step up", May said.

While Sunday's match-up is the first for FAU, it will be another homecoming for Coach May, who was an EMU assistant during the 2005-06 season under then head coach Charles Ramsey.

Florida Atlantic is favored by nearly 10 points for the contest, primarily due to defensive indicators.


Eagle Notables

Eastern Michigan is coming off an 80-68 road win over FIU that snapped a six-game overall losing streak. But results can be deceptive, having played Michigan within five points on the road, and Perdue within seven.

"They are much, much better than their record and they have a very high ceiling", said May of the Eagles.

At FIU, Emoni Bates (26) and Noah Farrakhan (25) became the first teammates to score 20-or-more in the same game since Jan. 29, 2022, in a home game against Miami University when Farrakhan (28) and Nate Scott (25) accomplished the feat.

"Really skilled players that are capable of getting 30 to 40 points", May said. "We are going to have a lot of accountability one-on-one and we're going to have to have great gap help to protect against those guys".

As of Nov. 30, Bates is the MAC league leader at 20.4 points per game and also ranks 19th in the NCAA. Bates, who has hit at least two triples in every game this year, is 17th in the NCAA at 3.4 triples per outing.

"We've played guys like Bates several times this year", said May. "If he gets his points it's OK as long as its taking him a lot of attempts to do it, and he's playing inefficiently."

The Eagles connected on eight treys at FIU, extending a streak of consecutive games with at least one made triple to 589 games. The last time EMU failed to hit from distance was Jan. 24, 2004, when it was 0-of-7 at home against Miami.

Contributing Source: EMU Sports Information

FAU vs EMU set to tip at ~ 2:40 with 👀 on WIN # 7 for the Owls. Here's the starters:


G Boyd
G Greenlee
G Gaffney
G Weatherspoon
C Goldin

Go Owls 🦉🏀

14:23 1st

FAU 12  EMU 6

Owls out to a quick lead in double up fashion.

10:38 1st

FAU 17  EMU 13

The Eagles are hanging in there at the midway point of the first half.

Brian Greenlee with 5 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists to lead the Owls thus far.

9:04 1st

FAU 23  EMU 13

6-0 run for the Owls and the Eagles call time.

4:38 1st

FAU 34  EMU 21

The Owls are containing Bates, he's got 8 points but is 0-3 from long range.

Scratch that, he just ran off 5 points and its a 6 point game.

HALFTIME: FAU 41  EMU 31

The Owls are getting balanced scoring across the board, and Gaffney is leading the way at the break with 8⃣. They blank the Eagles (0-9) from downtown 🤫

That halftime host though…



(yikes)

14:00 2nd

FAU 56  EMU 40

The Owls are on 🔥 from downtown, 2-of-3 to start the period and 7-of-15 for the contest.