FAU Continues Texas Two-Step at UNT


What: Florida Atlantic (11-5, 3-0) vs. North Texas (8-8, 2-1)

When: Saturday, January 11th, @ 4:00 PM Eastern

Where: The UNT Coliseum

Series: UNT owns a 12-6 advantage over the Owls, despite FAU winning three straight.


TV: None

Stream: ESPN+ *Fee

Radio: FoxSports 640

Live Stats: Here

UNT Team Site: Here


UNT at a Glance:

Offense - 69.9 PPG, 46.8% FG, 38.2% 3PT

Defense - 63.2 PPGA, 40.7% FGA, 32% 3PTA

Rebounding - 34.2 RPG Mean Green, 29.4 RPG Opponents


Notables

In what is being billed as the C-USA Game of the Week, the Mean Green return to the Super Pit after their 74-56 thrashing of FIU. This time, they will take on the conference's current leader, the Florida Atlantic Owls.

UNT's .500 overall record is misleading when considering the quality of their opponents. The Mean Green are working with the 84th hardest strength-of-schedule in the nation, which ranks best in C-USA. In out-of-conference play, UNT's first 11 opponents had a combined winning percentage of .667 (72-36), making it the 32nd hardest schedule in the country during that span.

Since conference play began at the New Year, UNT leads the league in FGs (51.2%), 3Pts (39.7%), and rebounding defense (27.3 Opponent RPG).

Sophomore guard Umoja Gibson leads UNT in PPG with 14.1. Meanwhile junior guard Javion Hamlet is second on the team with 11.3 PPG and third in C-USA with 4.2 APG.


FAU at a Glance:

Offense - 72.2 PPG, 43% FG, 34% 3PT

Defense - 66.1 PPGA, 43% FGA, 32% 3PTA

Rebounding - 37.6 RPG Owls, 33.4 RPG Opponents


Notables

The Owls will conclude their Texas Two-Step with a visit to the "Super Pit," on the campus of UNT. A place unkind to FAU as the Owls have only won two out of eight games played in Denton.

FAU kicked-off their Texas swing by squeaking out a thrilling 81-76 victory over Rice. The Owls from Houston climbed back from a 22-point deficit with a pair of 12-0 runs in the second half. Rice took the lead for the first time with four minutes remaining in the contest, but FAU quickly countered to seal the win.

In the victory, Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor matched a collegiate career record high with 34 points. The Division-II Lincoln Memorial grad transfer netted 34 on the first of December, 2018, against fellow Division-II side, Coker University.

Star forward Jailyn Ingram did not play against Rice, due to suffering concussion like symptoms following a collision with a teammate at practice. As of Friday night, it is unknown if he will suit up for court action against UNT. In his place, freshman forward and Kosovo national Dardan Kapiti scored a career high 10 points.


Opening Line: FAU +7.5


Additional Links:

2019-2020 FAU Basketball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest

2019-2020 FAU Basketball Season Discussion Thread - FAU Owl's Nest

Some lines are starting to move down to FAU +7. One website is showing that 98% of bets are siding with FAU when at +7.5

For what it's worth, I wouldn't put anything down on the Owls considering uncertainty surrounding Ingram.

Ingram is not in the starting lineup, and it's questionable whether or not he'll see action today.

Zecevic replaces Niang from Thursday's lineup, with Silins shifting to the #4 slot.

#FAU's Starting Five vs. #UNT:

G - Cornelius "Scuta" Taylor

G - Richardson Maitre

G - Everett Winchester

F - Karlis Silins

C - Aleksandar Zecevic

Zecevic is the only addition to the lineup from Thursday's victory at #Rice, replacing Niang. Silins shifts to the #4 slot.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

It's official. No Ingram tonight.  

BREAKING: Jailyn Ingram is OUT for tonight's game vs. #UNT with concussion-like symptoms.

He is expected to return Thursday vs. #MTSU.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

Here's FAU Owls Nest supporter Ralph Landau sending in this pic of the team warming up with no Ingram in sight.

And take warming up literally, there's snow on the ground in the Dallas area Mertroplex.

Yep, no Ingram on the court while the team warms up.

Tough break for #FAU is we get set for a difficult game against #UNT.

Special thanks to @RalphL001 for sending us this photo LIVE from the Super Pit! pic.twitter.com/hEJfXCUjYc

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

Silins gives FAU their first lead of the game by draining the contest's first three!

Silins drains one for THREE!

The big man drops the first triple of the game and the Owls lead! Five different Owls are on the score sheet, all with a single FG.#FAU leads #UNT 11-10 with 13:05 remaining in the first half. pic.twitter.com/tCzEfctBjA

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

If there's been one positive coming from Ingram's injury, it's the rise of Dardan Kapiti.

The Kosovar Sky-Scrapper™️ is feeling it in the Lone Star State!

Two days removed from setting a new career record in points, Dardan Kapiti scores his second FG of the contest with this basket.#FAU still leads #UNT 17-16 with 7:50 left in the half. pic.twitter.com/YWCx6evzXJ

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

Owls are now really struggling to move the ball down low. Three straight turnovers allow for UNT's James Reese to score 9 points in short order.

Dusty May calls for a timeout after three #FAU turnovers aid a 9-0 #UNT run over the last minute and a half.

UNT guard James Reese is responsible for all 9 UNT points during this run.

Mean Green now lead 25-18 with 6:30 left in the half.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

HALFTIME. FAU trails UNT, 36-29.

The Kosovar Sky-Scrapper leads the team with 8 points as he's 4-4 shooting.

HALFTIME. #UNT 36 - #FAU 29.

An ugly, ugly end to the half for both sides.

The Mean Green fail to score in the final 3:04 of the half, while the Owls have a scoring drought from the final 2:48.

11 Owls have seen action on the court, and Kapiti leads them with 8 points.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 11, 2020

Wow. That arena looks nice.