FAU Battles Panthers and Mean Green


What: FAU (14-1, 4-0) vs. FIU (8-7, 2-2) | UNT (13-3, 4-1)

When: Wed, Jan. 11th, @ 7:30 PM | Sat. Jan 14th, @ 2:00 PM

Where: Ocean Bank Convocation Center | The Burrow - Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena

Series: Panthers lead 28-24 over the Owls, and the Mean Green leads 14-7. FAU beat both teams earlier in 2022.


TV Both Games: ESPN+

Radio Both Games: FoxSports 640

Live Stats Both Games: Here


FAU at a Glance

Offense - 79 PPG, 48% FG, 38% 3PT

Defense - 63 PPGA, 40% FGA, 31% 3PTA

Rebounding - 39 RPG Owls, 33 RPG Opponents


Owl Notables

Continuing their best start in program history, FAU will hope to keep winning with key matchups against FIU on Wednesday and North Texas on Saturday. Even as the Owls have every right to brag about their ongoing program-record winning streak, head coach Dusty May wants them to stay focused on their upcoming contests.

"The focus part is what we're really concentrating on now, not getting too caught up in our record and anything else and just continuing to get better," head coach Dusty May said. "We just have to continue to improve, get better, and not get caught up in all the noise surrounding the success that we've had."



Streak Updates

• Best start to a season at 14-1
• Most consecutive wins in history at 13
• Home win streak of 11 games (record 15, set 1/3/91 to 1/2/92)

Sophomore guard Johnell Davis was the unsung hero for the Owls against UAB, dropping a career-high 36 points on 11-17 shooting from the field including four three-pointers. The following game, sophomore guard Alijah Martin came through with a team-high 17 points to help FAU prevail in a close game against Charlotte.

"Their unselfishness and ability to get numerous things impact winning," May said. "We have a lot of players who are capable of scoring and those two are the main ones that are capable of scoring more and playing more, but they're sacrificing in order to win games and put ourselves in position to chase the championship."

Even as FAU found themselves in situations where they could have seen their winning streak end sooner, there are players constantly stepping up to the plate which allows them to keep coming out of tough games with victories. May sees this and believes that winning mentality will continue to grow within the team as the season winds down.

"We just have to continue making plays and play for each other and take what the game gives us and then the guys that aren't being keyed on, they've got to produce and make open shots," May said. "We're prepared to take what the defense gives us each and every night and our guys are unselfish enough to do it."


FIU Team Site: Here


FIU at a Glance

Offense - 74 PPG, 48% FG, 30% 3PT

Defense - 75 PPGA, 44% FGA, 37% 3PTA

Rebounding - 33 RPG, 37 RPG Opponents


Panther Notables

Having an up-and-down start to the season, FIU men's basketball will want to create momentum with a win over FAU on Wednesday.

The Panthers enter this matchup coming off of crucial back-to-back wins over Charlotte and UAB last week. Sophomore guard Denver Jones and freshman guard Arturo Dean imposed their presence in those games, combining for 40 points a game within that stretch. Thanks to their performances, Jones won C-USA Player of the Week and Dean got C-USA Freshman of the Week.

"They're very young so typically with a lot of new younger players, it takes a little bit of time to gel in getting used to each other and become acclimated with the college game and they're starting two freshmen guards. Those guys made major strides, and obviously, Denver Jones is playing at an all-conference level right now," head coach Dusty May said. "They have a lot of weapons and are very talented and we certainly respect that team."

Even though FIU has a respectable offense for 74 points per game, they struggle to maintain that level of scoring depending on the matchup and are vulnerable on defense. They concede an average of 75 points from their opponents this season, which ranks the worst in C-USA and 310th out of 352 teams in the country.

The Panthers have been more efficient from the charity stripe, especially in the clutch. They went 28-35 from the free-throw line including 11-13 in the final five minutes of regulation or overtime in last week's wins over Charlotte and UAB, which FAU will have to be cautious about defensively.

After Wednesday's contest against the Owls, FIU will go on the road for a Saturday matchup at Western Kentucky.


UNT Team Site: Here


UNT at a Glance

Offense - 62 PPG, 40% FG, 32% 3PT

Defense - 53 PPGA, 38% FGA, 30% 3PTA

Rebounding - 36 RPG, 30 RPG Opponents


Mean Green Notables

Showing themselves as one of the best teams in C-USA, North Texas men's basketball is seeking payback against FAU after a disappointing 50-46 loss at home on Dec. 29.

North Texas is currently riding a three-game winning streak after wins against FIU, Western Kentucky, and Middle Tennessee. Within that stretch, they outscored their opponents 198-174.

The Mean Green defense is what FAU must watch out for, only allowing an average of 53 points as the third best defense in the country. Even though the Owls managed to respond with excellent defense of their own by holding their opponents to 46 points in the last encounter, head coach Dusty May knows they have to be more prepared heading into Saturday.  

"They present a number of challenges on the defensive side of the bed," May said. "We just have to value each and every possession, we have to cut with more urgency, we have to finish around the rim a little bit better, and you have to make shots from the perimeter when we do find open looks because they're so stingy defensively."

While they don't boast a high-powered offense only averaging 62 points a game, they do have a talented sharpshooter in Tylor Perry. The senior guard leads the Mean Green in scoring with 17.4 points per game, shooting 44% from the field and the perimeter. They also showcase plenty of physicality inside the paint grabbing 36 rebounds per game, which May wants to see FAU do better in after Charlotte out-rebounded them 32-30.

"That was probably the most disappointing part of the Charlotte game. We didn't get defensive rebounds as well as we typically do. We didn't get offensive rebounds as well as we typically do," May said. "We were a little slower to the ball, and we've got to get back to where we control and dominate the 50-50 basketballs. If we do that, it enhances our chance of winning."

North Texas will face Louisiana Tech on Wednesday before making their way to Boca Raton.

FAU is -10 for tonight, first meeting was -17.

Here's the starters for your Owls as they get ready to face FIU:

G Boyd
G Greenlee
G Gaffney
G Weatherspoon
C Goldin

Go Owls! 🦉🏀

Game delayed?

cbboarder said

Game delayed?

Posted On: Jan 11th 2023, 7:47 PM #411872

Yes, typical double header scheduling - ALWAYS delayed.

So glad we are LEAVING this conference.

14:55 1st

FAU 11 FIU 11

Owls putting an emphasis on their three-pointers early on, converting three out of four attempts as they are tied with the Panthers at the first media stop.

6:25 1st

FAU 23 FIU 27

Owls starting to struggle with their shooting, missing four straight shots as the Panthers go on a 7-0 run to take the lead.

We look very flat tonight.

Goldin being in foul trouble is definitely not helping either.

HALFTIME

FAU 34 FIU 33

We got a close one! Owls recovered from their cold shooting by knocking down three consecutive shots from deep, leading by one at the break.

Vlad played 90 seconds in the first half.

Wow…