Owls Host Critical Two Game C-USA Set


What: FAU (12-1, 2-0) vs. UAB (12-2, 3-0) | Charlotte (11-3, 2-1)

When: Thu Jan 5th, @ 7:00 PM

Where: The Burrow - Abessinio Court at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena

Series: FAU trails UAB 12-3, and is tied with Charlotte 6-6


TV: ESPN+ vs UAB | CUSA.tv vs Charlotte

Radio: FoxSports 640

Live Stats: Here


FAU at a Glance

Offense - 75.5 PPG, 46% FG, 36% 3PT

Defense - 67.7 PPGA, 44% FGA, 36% 3PTA

Rebounding - 37.2 RPG Owls, 31.7 RPG Opponents


Owl Notables

FAU is hosting their most important C-USA series in program history. Up until this point in time they've really never been in the drivers seat with a target on their back. However, after last Thursday's thrilling come from behind win against a pesky Mean Green team, that only further solidified this premise.

"We hadn't been in that situation this year, so you are always curious how you will respond to it". said Coach Dusty May. "When you go back and look at the film there were bodies flying everywhere. It was two extremely disciplined teams going at it and fortunately we scored the ball enough late to find a way to win."

From a timing perspective, it's hard to fathom that in the span on just nine days they will be faced with the task of knocking down arguably the three best teams in the league, but that is exactly what is occurring.

Streak Updates

• Best start to a season at 12-1
• Most consecutive wins in history at 11
• Home win streak of 10 games (record 15, set 1/3/91 to 1/2/92)

Dusty May's squad has shown unprecedented resiliency to find new ways to win over the course of the season, with multiple players stepping up against various opponents to bring home the wins. It was Vlad Goldin's (photo below) turn in Denton, with the big man tossing up 11 points and 13 grabs in his first career double-double.



"Every minute after the first four minutes he was phenomenal", May said. "It was him in traffic getting hit, getting pushed, getting grabbed - illegally - and he just came up with big time rebounds."

Florida Atlantic has also stepped up its three-point defense in the past three games, holding opponents to an 18-percent clip (9-50) in that span. The Owls lead C-USA and rank 20th nationally in perimeter defense on the year (28.0).

Line Update: The Owls opened as 4 point favorites against the Blazers.


UAB Team Site: Here


UAB at a Glance

Offense - 87 PPG, 47% FG, 35% 3PT

Defense - 69 PPGA, 40% FGA, 31% 3PTA

Rebounding - 42 RPG, 35 RPG Opponents


Blazer Notables

UAB men's basketball (12-2, 3-0 C-USA) used a 13-0 run just before halftime to stretch the lead en route to a 90-67 win over UTSA (6-8, 0-3 C-USA) last weekend. Jordan Walker led the way with 31 points while hitting seven three-pointers while Eric Gaines added 18 points with six rebounds and seven assists.
 
Jelly Walker scored his 1,000th point as a Blazer in the first half during in his 47th game at UAB. He is now the fastest player to reach 1,000 points as a Blazer, overtaking Robert Vaden's previous record of 50 games.

"Just an explosive shot maker, averaging about 12 or 13 three point shots a game and leading the country in scoring. And he has improved as a playmaker and a finisher in the paint", said FAU Coach Dusty May.

A panel of 17 college basketball experts at The Athletic named Jordan Walker one of the most entertaining players in the country and tabbed UAB as a team that could make a deep run in March.

During UAB’s five-game winning streak, Eric Gaines is averaging 14.4 points, four assists and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting 44 percent (23-52) from the field and 50 percent (9-18) from three.

"We do think we match up well because of our guard depth, we've just got to match-up on the defensive glass", May said.

Contributing Source: UAB Media Relations


Charlotte Team Site: Here


Charlotte at a Glance

Offense - 70 PPG, 49% FG, 38% 3PT

Defense - 61 PPGA, 41% FGA, 37% 3PTA

Rebounding - 31 RPG, 29 RPG Opponents


49er Notables

Following a pair of 31-point performances in a pair of home dubs for the Charlotte men's basketball team, junior guard Brice Williams has been named the Conference USA Player of the Week the league announced Monday.

In CLT's victories over Middle Tennessee and Louisiana Tech, Williams averaged 31 points, five rebounds and 1.5 assists while shooting 78 percent from the field (18-of-23), 56 percent from 3-point land (5-of-9) and knocking down 21 total attempts from the charity stripe.

In Thursday's 82-67 victory over Middle, Williams scored 31 points on 9-of-11 shooting, including 21 of those in the second half and nine during the 49ers momentum-shifting, 16-2 run to pull away from the Blue Raiders in the evenings closing stages.

Defensively, they will present a similar challenge to the once faced against North Texas.

"What we learned from the North Texas game is how much better our shot preparation game has to be", said May. "The space closes up so much quicker when teams are geared up to play against you and they are elite defensively."

During Charlotte's last eight contests, the 49ers have made at least seven threes as a team in all but one game and have shot 39 percent or better as a team from long range in six of those eight contests.

"Charlotte has redefined themselves this year, they are an extremely good shooting basketball team", May said. "They are playing a five out offense, and that will present a number of challenges."

The 49ers will take on FIU prior to making their way to Boca Raton.

Contributing Source: Charlotte Media Relations

If anyone is heading to the game tonight, make sure to wear ⚫️⚫️⚫️

📢 LET'S DO THIS THING! The Starting for the Owls as they get set to take on UAB:

G Boyd
G Greenlee
G Gaffney
G Weatherspoon
C Goldin

Go Owls 🦉🏀

Weatherspoon takes a bow to the face and is off to the locker room.

No beuno…

16:00 1st

FAU 11 UAB 5

Owls are off to a 75% start from the floor, with Davis leading the way with 4 PTS at the first media stop.

11:50 1st

FAU 18  UAB 12

Blazers net a score before the stop to keep the Owl lead to a half dozen despite being outshot, and outrebounded in double-up fashion.

8:36 1st

FAU 20  UAB 19

The once 10 point lead is down to just 1, this all despite Jelly Walker being scoreless.

3:08 1st

FAU 31  UAB 34

The Owls rattle off a string of three point attempts that don't fall and the Blazers push ahead. They have narrowed the shooting efficiency battle. The bigger issue is a 4-of-15 mark at the line by FAU. That and Vlad Goldin has played 2 minutes.

Got a good one going at Baldwin Arena!

HALFTIME: #FAU 41 #UAB 41

Locked up in a tight one! @martin_alijah with the and one to close out the Owls scoring for the first half 🔥 pic.twitter.com/8nikP0NxPS

— FAU Owls Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) January 6, 2023

STATS AT THE HALF:  FAU 41  UAB 41

Davis with a game high 18 PTS on 6-of-9 shooting to pave the way for the Owls who own the glass 23-18 and PIP 20-12. Goldin just 2 mins of action so far. Blazer Jelly Walker held to only 5 PTS.