SERIES THREAD: FAU @ Southern Miss - February 26 & 27, 2021
What: Florida Atlantic (8-9, 3-5) vs. Southern Mississippi (8-14, 4-11)
When: Friday, February 26, @ 8:00 PM
Saturday, February 27, @ 5:00 PM
Where: Reed Green Coliseum
Series: The Golden Eagles have won three straight over the Owls for a 5-2 series lead.
USM Team Site: Here
TV: None
Stream: ESPN+ *Subscription Required
Radio: FoxSports 640
Live Stats: Here
USM at a Glance:
Offense - 64.9 PPG, 44% FG, 32% 3PT
Defense - 66.6 PPGA, 42% FGA, 32% 3PTA
Rebounding - 35.5 RPG Golden Eagles, 34.1 RPG Opponents
Notables
The Golden Eagles snapped their eight-game losing streak thanks to a run in with the pitiful FIU Panthers. The 85-72 scoreline was USM's first fine since January 16.
In the victory over FIU, sophomore forward Tyler Stevenson scored a game-high 26 points and hauled in nine rebounds. Although it was junior guard Tae Hardy's 20 points, 19 of which coming in the second half, that has garnered attention. That second half performance was rewarded with a C-USA Player of the Week honor.
The final game of the two-game series against FIU was cancelled due to COVID-19 issues within the USM program. At the time of this posting, this weekend's matchup in Hattiesburg will go on as scheduled.
FAU at a Glance
Offense - 80.7 PPG, 47% FG, 38% 3PT
Defense - 67.3 PPGA, 42% FGA, 35% 3PTA
Rebounding - 40.8 RPG Owls, 31.8 RPG Opponents
Notables
FAU's losing streak stands at three games after getting swept by UTSA. That series was the Owls' first in three weeks and saw talisman Jailyn Ingram sustain an injury that sidelined him for Game Two.
The Owls were expected to travel to play UTEP last weekend. That series was first pushed back a couple of days due to the winter storm that slammed the Lone Star State but was later cancelled as COVID-19 issues took hold within the Miner program.
FAU has seen three of their last four basketball series cancelled due to the coronavirus and currently sit at the bottom of C-USA in total conference games played with eight.
Latest Line: FAU -1
#FAU basketball is BACK AT IT! @FAUMBB's Starting 5⃣ 🆚 #USM, Game 1⃣ ⬇️
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 27, 2021
G - BJ Greenlee
G - Mike Forrest
G - Kenan Blackshear
F - Everett Winchester
C - Karlis Silins
No @2easyJ_ in the starting lineup, but we are expected him to see the court tonight. #GoOwls! 👌
HE'S BAAAAACK! @2easyJ_ drains his second straight three of the night as @CoachDustyMay's boys tighten their grip on the Golden Eagles. #FAU leads #USM 20-13 | 9:36 1H pic.twitter.com/yumDDUQQOT
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 27, 2021
HALFTIME | #FAU 43 - #USM 30
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 27, 2021
Give @NicholaswBoyd space and he will PUNISH you! Boyd with the drip as the Owls have drained 10-17 from the three point arc!@m_ke1135 has owns a pair of team-highs with 10 points AND 4 rebounds. pic.twitter.com/wrq6MHw3ld
EASY as YOU LIKE, @karlis_silins! Everybody's favorite Latvian is responsible for 6 of the 14 combined points so far this second half. 🇱🇻 ➡️ 🌴🏀🌴#FAU leads #USM 52-35 | 10:05 2H pic.twitter.com/Y0ZCXhGQEQ
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 27, 2021
OWLS WIN! | #FAU 69 - #USM 60
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 27, 2021
Three game losing streak SNAPPED as the Owls grind for a NICE win in Hattiesburg! And just like that, @CoachDustyMay's boys are back at .500. Time for that MARCH PUSH!@m_ke1135: TH 14 PTS, 5 Rebs@2easyJ_: 12 PTS
NEXT: Game 2 @ #USM, Sat 5pm pic.twitter.com/GKnVQJMTnw
Quick Hits
- Owls shot lights out from three in the first half, going 10-17 along the arc. But those hot hands didn't carry over in the second half until it was needed the most: when USM pulled within a possession with three minutes left.
- Owls continue to struggle from the charity stripe. FAU went 8-20 on the night, including four front ends of one-and-ones. A drought on the stripe is what allowed USM to make it a contest after the Owls led by as much as 17 at one point.
- Mike Forrest paced the team in points with 14 thanks to a pair of free throws late in the contest to ice the game. He also hauled in a team-high five boards, as did Jailyn Ingram.
- Speaking of Jailyn Ingram, the star forward drained 12 in his first bit of game action since sustaining an injury in Game One of the UTSA series two weeks ago. All of his points came from three-points range.
- Head Coach Dusty May said the team will have to play better tomorrow to get the all-elusive road series sweep.
- May also mentioned that BJ Greenlee played better tonight that he has recently, as he "ran the show" with a game-high five assists.
NEXT: FAU will go for the sweep in Game Two, tomorrow at 5PM.
DOUBLE DUTY! @FAUMBB hopes to earn the sweep over #USM in Game 2⃣. #FAU's Starting 5⃣⬇️
— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 27, 2021
G - BJ Greenlee
G - Mike Forrest
G - Kenan Blackshear
F - Everett Winchester
C - Karlis Silins
Let's go EARN it, boys! #GoOwls 👌 pic.twitter.com/7wOPmP82Ez
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