GAME CAPSULE: FAU vs Northern Kentucky - December 21, 2022
What: Florida Atlantic (10-1, 1-0 C-USA) vs. Northern Kentucky (7-5, 2-0 Horizon)
When: Wednesday, December 21st @ 7:00 PM
Where: The Burrow - Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena
Series: First meeting
TV: CUSA.tv
Radio: FoxSports 640
Live Stats: Here
Latest Line: FAU -15
NKU Team Site: Here
NKU at a Glance
Offense - 68 PPG, 43% FG, 34% 3PT
Defense - 65 PPGA, 44% FGA, 40% 3PTA
Rebounding - 34 RPG, 34 RPG Opponents
FAU at a Glance
Offense - 82 PPG, 50% FG, 39% 3PT
Defense - 63 PPGA, 40% FGA, 30% 3PTA
Rebounding - 40 RPG, 33 RPG Opponents
Owl Notables
For the first time in program history, FAU is getting some love in the NCAA Top 25 Coaches Poll. And they are also receiving some looks from passer by influencers that don't normally take notice of the budding "mid-major" program in Boca Raton.
It may just be a vote for now, but with continued momentum and an upcoming road win in Denton, TX Coach Dusty May eluded to the Owls possibly having a chance to cross the threshold.
"Continue winning, there's no other way", sad Head Coach Dusty May. "And the way you win, and the way you play, and how you project all are factors in whether you get ranked. We need to play well against Northern Kentucky - and then obviously North Texas…"
On the records front, here are the new figures that will be on tap with a win over the Norse Wednesday:
- Best start to a season at 11-1
- Most consecutive wins in history at 10
- Home win streak of 9 games (record 15, set 1/3/91 to 1/2/92)
This may be the first meeting for FAU with Northern Kentucky, but Norse Head Coach Darrin Horn is no stranger to FAU 's Baldwin Arena having defeated the Owls twice there as former head man at Western Kentucky (2003-2008).
Bu this time around, he'll be facing a completely different unit, with FAU ranking fourth in the nation in bench points per game (36.3) only 2.4 points per game behind the NCAA Division I leader in James Madison.
Norse Notables
Horizon league member Northern Kentucky enters Wednesday's tilt on a two-game winning streak and winners in five-of-their-past-six contests. They have a marquee win over Cincinnati, but also lost to common Owl opponent Florida Gulf Coast by 20 points in Fort Myers.
And, like other opponents as of late, the Norse will present a style that Coach May hopes to cash in on from a familiarity standpoint, especially with an important Conference USA foe looming in the near future.
"They are a little bit similar to North Texas in the way the play, so we thought that it would be a good prep game", said May. "More than anything else is a quality mid major team that's had recent success and we thought it would challenge and test our guys."
Guard A'lahn Sumler was named the Horizon League Freshman of the Week on Monday after averaging 12.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal for the period. He shot 8-of-12 (.667) from the field, which included a mark of 5-of-9 from beyond the arc.
In NKU's win on Wednesday night against in-state foe EKU, Sumler hit timely three's down the stretch as a driving force in the Norse's victory
Northern Kentucky was picked alongside Purdue Fort-Wayne to win the Horizon this season. They had three players selected to the pre-season all Horizon teams in that of guards Marques Warrick (1), Sam Vinson (2), and Trevon Faulkner (2).
So far they have lived up to their billing, with Warrick leading the squad with 19.9 ppg, Vinson just behind at 10.3 ppg and 4.0 rpg, and Faulkner with 8.3 ppg and 3.2 rpg.
G Boyd
G Greenlee
G Gaffney
G Weatherspoon
C Goldin
Go Owls 🦉🏀
FAU out to a 5-2 lead.
16:05 1st
DEFENSIVE start to the contest, and the Owls find themselves down but Rosado with the up and under AND ONE down low for #FAU before the free throw ties it up! pic.twitter.com/Y0qSzYBcH5
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 22, 2022
FAU 25 NKU 20
The Owls are using the bench, as usual, to dig in and pull away and an 11-0 run doesn't hurt.
They now lead by 5 after the Norse took a brief two point advantage.
Boyd, Rosado, Forrest, Martin, Weatherspoon all with 3 PTS.
Rosado continues to work against the pesky Norse defense. He's looking GOOD under the basket for #FAU and has 5 PTS to go along with Greenlee's 5. pic.twitter.com/3HFLptToan
— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 22, 2022
HALFTIME: FAU 32 NKU 25
The Teams are neck and neck in shooting efficiency, but the Owls have a 17-2 advantage off the bench and 9-2 edge in points off turnovers.
FAU 38 NKU 28
Brian Greenlee drops a long ball and gets the and one to push the lead to double digits for the Owls.
Time to PULL Away - Let's Go!
🦉🏀
FAU 48 NKU 34
NKU sticking with the pressure zone.
Only problem, Owls are heating up from THREE!
Largest lead of the night now.
FAU 54 NKU 38
Owls now with a 16 point lead, and depth appears to be taking its toll on the Norse who have basically used just 7 players.
Nick Boyd with a triple out of the time-out.
Recent Forum Posts
Hoping that's the real equalizer
Game 2 is tomorrow night…
Nizhan Feagin was very pleased with his visit to FAU earlier t…
CJ gives up two hits over six innings and gets the loss. Owls…
Just couldn't find the equalizer tonight 😭