What: Hofstra (3-9, 0-0 CAA) vs FAU (6-8, 2-2 SBC)

When: Tuesday, Jan. 1st @ 2:00 PM

Where: FAU Arena

TV: None

Live Video: None

Internet Broadcast: Here

Live Stats: Here

Pride Team Site: Here


Probable Starters:


Hofstra

G- Taran Buie 15.3 ppg
G- Stevie Mejia 9.8 ppg
F- Jordan Allen 3.9 ppg
F- David Imes 5.9 ppg
F- Moussa Kone 5.6 ppg


FAU

G- Richard Morrow 2.6 ppg
G- Greg Gantt 22.3 ppg
G- Pablo Bertone 8.4 ppg
F- Jordan McCoy 5.4 ppg
F- Kelvin Penn 1.3 ppg


The series:

Hofstra holds a 5-2 all-time advantage in the series dating back to 1996-97, but FAU has won the last two meetings – including a thrilling 62-60 victory on the road last season. Former PG Alex Tucker came up huge late in the contest, hitting a game-winning layup with 2.4 seconds left on the clock to secure the win.

The game was marked with14 lead changes, but it was Greg Gantt’s 21 points and Tucker’s four points in the final minute of play that proved to be the winning factor. Mike Moore led the Pride with 20 points and connected on all nine of his free throw attempts.


Hofstra at a Glance:

After finishing last season with a dismal 10-22 record, the Pride have yet to rebound in this year’s campaign and find the winning ways. The Colonial Athletic Association members are currently amidst a seven game skid and stand at 3-9(0-0) on the season.

Third year head coach Mo Cassera thought he initially had a squad built for success, but an off-the-court incident derailed the program mid-season. On November 29th four players – including two starters – where arrested and charged for stealing iPads, iPhones, and other electronic devices from dorm rooms on the school’s Hempstead, NY campus.

In the aftermath of the event, all four players were suspended indefinitely by the university leaving just nine scholarship players on the roster.

The results of the mishap have been reflected on the hardwood, as Hofstra hasn’t won a game following the arrests. In the first contest following the event, the team was blown out by SMU and shot a poor 25.9% from the field.

Since then, the Pride has dropped an additional four games – including an 83-62 loss to Tulane at the Brooklyn Hoops Holiday Invitational held at the new Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY. The game was tied at halftime, before Hofstra surrendered a 20-0 run in the opening minutes of the second half which effectively putting the game out of reach.

“We’re halfway through the season and obviously were all frustrated. We want to win,” Cassera said of the losses.

Sophomore guard Taran Buie – a transfer from Penn State – has done his best to make up for the lack of depth on the roster in wake of the suspensions. After missing the first two games of the season due to a suspension of his own, he has scored in double-figures in each of the last five games and led the team in points in all but two contests over that span.

In a game against LIU Brooklyn, he torched the nets for a career-high 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting.

Center Daquan Brown made his career debut for the Pride against Tulane after finally gaining eligibility following a transfer from Fresno State. The big man was used featured in a limited role during the loss, but recorded three blocks in just seven minutes of action. He is expected to see more minutes as the season rolls along, and should see more action against FAU.

As a team Hofstra is shooting a lowly 38.1% from the field - which ranks dead last in their conference and is tied for 332nd in the nation.  The squad is 0-8 when recording 62 points or fewer, and 0-4 when turning the ball over 17 or more times.


FAU at a Glance:

Florida Atlantic lost their third game of the season by three points or less on Saturday night, falling 65-64 to ULM on the road. The loss comes as the fourth in the last five games and moves the team’s record to 6-8 (2-2) on the season.

The Owls had led by as many as 10 points midway through the second half, but allowed for the Warhawks to hang around in the contest and capitalize on an opportunity at the end of regulation. Freshman guard Stefan Moody – who was playing in his first game after missing the last three for violating team rules – missed two free throws with 35 seconds remaining, which in turn allowed ULM’s Trent Mackey to hit a game-winning three-pointer on the other end of the court.

FAU had one more possession and a chance to take a lead, but Greg Gantt committed the team’s 20th turnover of the night ensuring the loss.

“We have too many guys creating unnecessary turnovers. I think a lot of guys are playing better in certain areas, but we need everybody to play better in certain particular areas like taking care of the ball,” head coach Mike Jarvis said.

Forward Jordan McCoy posted a career-high 14 points, but it was Moody - the team’s second leading scorer – who was held scoreless in 14 minutes of action in the loss.

The Owls will now look to rebound against a struggling Hofstra squad and add one more win to their resume before conference play is in full effect.

“Hopefully what we can get out of tomorrow (Tuesday) is a W – and hopefully we take better care of the ball, which will help us win. Those are the two main things. Get a W and have fewer turnovers while playing some inspired basketball,” Jarvis said.

While turnovers have been an issue that has plagued the team since the opening game of the season, one positive has been shooting guard Greg Gantt. The senior is averaging 22.3 points per game which is good enough to rank fifth in the country, while his three-point percentage sits near the top of the Sun Belt Conference.

In the loss to ULM Gantt scored 25 points and was 4-8 from three-point range – but he can’t be responsible for all of the scoring. Coaches would like to see other guys such as forward Kelvin Penn step up and make difference on the offensive end of the court.

“He’s (Penn) always been good on defense and he’s an exceptional shot blocker. We’re trying to get him and all of the other big guys to score more around the basket and get some put backs – which would really help him,” Jarvis said.

FAU is 1-5 this season when making 12 free throws or fewer and 1-4 when an opponent’s three-point percentage is 38.9% or better.

While Hofstra may look like a team on the decline, coach Jarvis understands what the program is going through.

“They have had a chance to work on a lot of things really and go back to the drawing board. The players they won’t get back will hurt them as the year goes on – as they lost some really good players – but you know every team goes through there spindles,” Jarvis said.


Latest Line:

FAU -8


Owl's Nest Prediction

While some may think that FAU has had its fair share of off-the-court issues the past few months, Hofstra has received almost double the dose with six different players having been suspended at one time or another.

The Pride coming limping into the Burrow with a limited roster, but will be looking to avenge last year’s two-point loss to the Owls.

FAU on the other hand needs to learn how to close things out down the stretch and finish a game. It will be interesting to see how Stefan Moody responds after a poor showing in his first game back from his suspension. If he is able to rebound nicely – while Gantt and Bertone continue to score – this could be an easy win for the Owls on New Year’s Day.

However, you can never tell what will happen with this FAU team, so expect another game that will grind down to the wire.

FAU -3

Andrew said

Third year head coach Mo Cassera thought he initially had a squad built for success, but an off-the-court incident derailed the program mid-season. On November 29th four players – including two starters – where arrested and charged for stealing iPads, iPhones, and other electronic devices from dorm rooms on the school’s Hempstead, NY campus.

In the aftermath of the event, all four players were suspended indefinitely by the university leaving just nine scholarship players on the roster.

FOUR suspended players?!

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The Pride fan base must calling for his head!

Happy New Year everyone!

Great day for some Owls basketball here at FAU Arena…

Former FAU point Alex Tucker is on hand:

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Tuck is coaching the women at Boca High, and has a tryout for the ABL coming up.

shocked FAU is favored by 9 points now. makes no sense. they just lost to one of the worst teams in the country in ULM. Hofstra can easily win this game. max it should be fau -3.

Starters…


Hofstra

G- Taran Buie
G- Stevie Mejia
F- Jordan Allen
F- David Imes
F- Moussa Kone


FAU

G- Stefan Moody
G- Greg Gantt
G- Pablo Bertone
F- Jordan McCoy
F- Kelvin Penn

Moody back in surprisingly for the Owls…

Florida Atlantic sporting some new uniforms today, as modeled below by Owsley:

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And we're underway here at The Burrow..Owls control the tip!

Even with Moody in, Gantt running the point...

Penn picks up a quick second foul and Sekelja is in...

17:48

HU 2  FAU 2