Owls Host Mean Green and Blue Raiders in Pivotal Series


What: FAU (15-10, 8-4) vs. North Texas (18-4, 11-1) | MTSU (17-7, 8-3)

When: Thursday, Feb 17th, @ 7:00 PM
            Saturday, Feb 19th, @ 4:00 PM

Where: The Burrow - Abessinio Court at FAU Arena

Series: UNT leads FAU 12-5, while MTSU owns a 20-8 mark including the 1st meeting this season.


TV: ESPN+ vs UNT | CUSA.TV vs MTSU

Radio: FoxSports 640

Live Stats: Here


UNT Team Site: Here


Mean Green at a Glance

Offense - 66.5 PPG, 45% FG, 37% 3PT

Defense - 55.5 PPGA, 42% FGA, 29% 3PTA

Rebounding - 34.0 RPG, 29.3 RPG Opponents


North Texas Notables

The Mean Green rolled to its 10th straight win with a 67-44 victory over Rice last Saturday. The win concluded a sweep over Rice for the season, and keeps North Texas alone atop the Conference USA standings with an 11-1 league record. The 44 points Rice was held to was 33 points below their season scoring average.

It also keeps them undefeated in league road games this season (6-0). UNT is just one of two teams in the country who are still undefeated in road games overall — No. 2 Gonzaga is the other.

With the win North Texas has now won 16 of their last 17 and improves its scoring defense to a national leading 55.5 points per game. They've held every league opponent to 10 or more points below their respective season scoring average. Only one league opponent has scored over 65 points on the Mean Green. Kansas is the only opponent to score more than 70 (71) on UNT this entire season.

The Owls enter the match-up at 75.4 points per game, so it will be interesting to see if Coach May employs some offensive wrinkles versus that of their persistent high pick and roll. On the other side of the ball, the Owls are not a pressing team, but they might be in order to try and speed up the Mean Green's deliberately slow pace with the rock.

Contribution Credit: North Texas Media Relations


MTSU Team Site: Here


Blue Raiders at a Glance

Offense - 74.8 PPG, 45% FG, 33% 3PT

Defense - 67.0 PPGA, 43% FGA, 32% 3PTA

Rebounding -  35.1 RPG, 33.6 RPG Opponents


MTSU Notables

Following three-straight wins, East Division leader Middle Tennessee swept the C-USA weekly awards as Josh Jefferson was named the Men’s Basketball Player of the Week for the first time this season. Additionally, Blue Raider freshman Teafale Lenard, Jr., was selected as the C-USA Freshman of the Week for the third time on the year.

Jefferson led the Blue Raiders with 30 points Sunday in a 78-63 win over Charlotte as Middle Tennessee went 3-0 on the week. Jefferson shot 19-for-35 (.543) from the floor and 9-for-17 (.529) from long distance in three wins. The grad transfer guard added 14 rebounds and nine assists compared to just three turnovers. His 30 points against the 49ers were one shy of his career high and marked his second 30-point game of the season and his fifth-straight double-digit scoring night.

Lenard recorded 15 points, 12 rebounds and three blocks on the week, providing his usual highlight reel dunks as the Blue Raiders went 3-0. This is the third weekly honor for Lenard, Jr., this season making him the first Blue Raider freshman to earn the award three times in one season.

Contribution Credit: C-USA Media Relations


FAU at a Glance

Offense - 75.4 PPG, 46% FG, 36% 3PT

Defense - 67.8 PPGA, 44% FGA, 36% 3PTA

Rebounding - 37.2 RPG Owls, 32.1 RPG Opponents


Owl Notables

FAU has their most critical C-USA series in years at hand, as they welcome both conference division leaders to The Burrow in back-to-back fashion.

"We've had a full week of preparation, and typically after a full week of preparation our guys have done a great job of implementing the game plans and carrying them out", Coach Dusty May said. "We've played with better pace at home, we've looked a lot bouncier, quicker, and faster. So, we want to continue to play like that."

With a 10 game home streak on the line, the Owls will need a stout effort on offense to keep the Mean Green from extending their road win streak as well. It may appear to be a tall order against a team that leads the way in points allowed per game on a national level, but Coach May eludes to other ways to create an advantage.

"We have to take care of the basketball and rebound the ball, the two things that have been our staple", May said. "We can't turn it over and give them any baskets and we can't give them any second chance points."

Of note, the Owls are 14-1 when they have fewer turnovers than the opponent thus far on the season.

MTSU has had a rough couple of seasons as of late, but has made strides - as noted in the 70-57 setback they handed the Owls back in January.  One reason for that has been the addition of Josh Jefferson, who ranks 11th in C-USA scoring at 14.5 ppg, 9th in three point scoring (38.1%) and first at the charity stripe where he's nailed 64-of-70 attempts (91.4%).

Jefferson led the way in Murfreesboro with a game high 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting and will have to be contained for FAU to take with wind out of the Blue Raider's sails.

"He's extremely intelligent, efficient, and he scores the ball from deep", said May. "He just adds a different dimension to them offensively."

Alijah Martin (photo below) paved the way for FAU in their earlier meeting against MTSU, netting a team high 13 points to go along with five rebounds. Michael Forrest experienced an off-night at 1-of-11 from the floor, but expect that to change on Saturday.



Coach May also indicated that he expects everyone to be available for the weekend.

"Obviously this time of the year there is a swollen ankle, or a deep bruise or muscle strain - the typical nagging injuries. But nothing that's going to keep anyone out of action", May said.

Two wins would be a fantastic outcome this weekend. It won't matter in terms of tournament eligibility though, as all teams are guaranteed a spot in the leagues' format. But it would certainly help jockeying for a coveted 1st round bye.


Latest Lines: vs UNT - FAU +2
                      vs MT - TBA

The Owls come in as 2 point underdogs for tomorrow night. Going to be a great atmosphere, and looking forward to the game!

No changes to the starting lineup:

G Greenlee
G Forrest
G Martin
G Winchester
F Goldin

And we're underway…

15:54 1st:

Low scoring affair thus far but a timely block and some solid D has the Owls out front early:

FAU 4  UNT 2

Goldin is still learning to play under control.

Tossing up shots, whimsically, is not a good idea.

Tough D by both sides thus far.

09:15 1st:  FAU 15  UNT 11

Slow start with the Owls assuming a 6-2 lead before the Mean Green claw back. But solid D to the tune of 6 forced turnovers see the Boys on top!

🦉🏀🦉

7:27 1st:

FAU 17  UNT 13

This is a gritty game, as we expected.

BUT North Texas ain't all that. Just fundamental, and S-L-O-W paced.

We need to keep attacking them off the dribble and make our threes.

3:53 1st:

FAU 23  UNT 15

Owls holding North Texas to their lowest half time total for the season (I believe).

No FG's for North Texas for 6:12

D-up!