Owls Ready for Tough Road Game Against High Scoring Herd


What: FAU (11-6, 2-2) vs. Marshall (10-6, 3-0)

When: Thursday, January 7th @ 7:00 PM Eastern

Where: Cam Henderson Center

Series: The Herd have a 6-2 all-time series advantage over the Owls, including winning five straight.


TV: None

Live Video: ESPN+(FEE)

Radio: ESPN 106.3

Marshall Team Site: Here



Thundering Herd at a Glance:

Offense – 79.6 PPG, 45% FG, 34% 3PT

Defense – 80.1 PPGA, 47% FGA, 37% 3PTA

Rebounding - 32.7 PG, 41.1 PG Opponents


Notables

The defending C-USA Champions limped into conference play having lost five out of seven games played in December. In those losses, Dan D’Antoni’s Marshall Thundering Herd gave up an average of 92.2 points. Many in college basketball circles began to doubt Marshall's ability to repeat as conference champions. Midway through January, the Herd have righted the ship and are atop the C-USA Standings after beating a talented WKU team at the buzzer.
 
Marshall’s fast paced offense revolves around G Jon Elmore, who averages 19.1 PPG. Elmore shares the backcourt with CJ Burks, whose 46% FG makes him the fourth most efficient shooter in the conference.

As a team, Marshall’s 79 PPG makes the Herd second highest scorers in C-USA. This stems from Marshall electing to shoot their ball just 10-15 seconds within each possession. Match that with their high opponent’s turnover rate, 17.5 PG, and Marshall will look to light up the scoreboard.


Owls at a Glance:

Offense – 72.2 PPG, 41% FG, 31% 3PT

Defense - 68.4 PPGA, 42% FGA, 31% 3PTA

Rebounding - 40.3 PG, 36.3 PG Opponents


Notables

FAU showed their youth in a disappointing effort against a Charlotte program that had three wins going into The Burrow. A win would have put FAU within the top five “pod” of the conference. This is lucrative positioning as C-USA’s top five teams will play each other just before the Conference Tournament, in hopes to rise their SOS and RPI.

Anthony Adger is FAU’s leading scorer among active players with 15.9 PPG. He leads the team in shot attempts, three-point attempts, shots made and threes made.
 
But the Owls will have to look towards SF Xavian Stapleton to have a big day against the smaller Marshall roster. The Mississippi State transfer averages 12.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per contest, both second among active players on the Owl roster.



Opening Line: FAU +10

Maitre is making his third consecutive start at the SF slot. Zecevic returns to the line-up, replacing Niang.

#FAU's Starting Five tonight vs. #Marshall:

PG - Michael Forrest

SG - Anthony Adger

SF - Richardson Maitre

PF - Simeon Lepichev

C - Aleksandar Zecevic

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 17, 2019

We're off to sloppy start in Huntington. BUT, at least ESPN is using our full (and preferred) name for the score bugs.

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

ESPN isn't calling us Fla Atl anymore! pic.twitter.com/kNv76YULtT

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

Both teams are trying to find their footing. Marshall is missing shots they normally make. FAU is missing rebounds they normally earn.

15:41 1H | #FAU 4 - #Marshall 3

Sloppy start for both sides. In the last two minutes of game-time, we have had zero points. Invigorating stuff.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

Oh boy, the game has opened up since the slow start. Both teams are playing well offensively, but the defensive advantage is going to Marshall as they are forcing turnovers and scoring quickly on the fast break.

The Owls just committed their seventh foul, putting MU into the bonus.

10:15 1H | #Marshall 24 - #FAU 19

The game has opened up since the last media stoppage. The Herd have converted 7 of their last 8 FGS, while the Owls have knocked three straight.

Zecevic and Stapleton both have 6 points.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

Looked like the game was getting away from the Owls, but Forrest puts on an absolute show to pull FAU back.

7:41 1H | #Marshall 32 - #FAU 27

Michael Forrest has singlehandedly brought the Owls back within single digits after the Herd stretched their lead to 11. Forrest now has 11 points on the day, a game high.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

Really interesting to see FAU use the box-and-one, with Adger covering Jon Elmore. Makes me wish we used that last week against Charlotte and Jon Davis.

3:44 1H | #Marshall 36 - #FAU 35

We're not here to play games, we're here for BUSINESS! 😤😤

The Owls use a mix of 2-3, 3-2, and box-and-one zone defenses to perfection, forcing Marshall to go 1-8 FG over the last six minutes.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

While the final three minutes of the half did not go the Owls' way, Dusty May's boys are proving that they can hang around with a high scoring team like Marshall.

HALFTIME | #Marshall 49 - #FAU 42

Owls throw away a brief lead with 4 quick turnovers. The Herd end the half with a 12-4 run.

An interesting end to the half as Michael Forrest drives, then milks the clock as his layup slowly circles around the rim twice before going in.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

Jack D Whidden III said

We're off to sloppy start in Huntington. BUT, at least ESPN is using our full (and preferred) name for the score bugs.

🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨🚨

ESPN isn't calling us Fla Atl anymore! pic.twitter.com/kNv76YULtT

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019

Posted On: Jan 17th 2019, 7:11 PM #384719

Post of the year!

(so far)

 

Adger nets 8 points in opening three minutes of the second half to give the Owls the lead!

ANTHONY ADGER IS A BAD MAN!

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 18, 2019