Alex Tucker had a school-record 16 assists vs. FIU. (FAUOwlAccess photo)
Plenty on the line
> FAU @ UNT Preview: The Owls try to keep pace in the Sun Belt Conference East Division race with a tough road game at North Texas on Thursday
Originally published on
2/3/2010
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON – Florida Atlantic isn’t facing a contender for its division in the Sun Belt Conference or playing its natural rival in front of a near sell-out crowd this week.
But the Owls (13-10, 8-3 Sun Belt) are certainly playing a big game when they travel to face North Texas at 8 p.m. Thursday in Denton, Texas.
FAU has won five consecutive games and is still tied with Middle Tennessee for first place in the East Division. All the games are big when you are fighting for the division lead, according to FAU coach Mike Jarvis.
“It’s exciting,” Jarvis said. “It keeps you sharp. If you are working for something, it’s a heck of a lot better than just working.”
And facing the up-and-down Mean Green won’t be easy. North Texas (13-8, 6-5) owns a road victory at Western Kentucky, but also lost at home earlier this season to FIU.
“They have talent, there is no doubt about it,” Jarvis said.
This is the first game of a two-game road trip. The Owls are at Denver on Saturday.
FAU (12-10 Sun Belt Conference)
at North Texas(13-8, 6-5)
About the Owls: The Owls have never won six consecutive games since moving to Division I in 1993. ...Ray Taylor has 140 assists and broke Alex Tucker’s school freshman record of 139 last game. Taylor is just six shy of the school single-season record of 145 held by Earnest Crumbley. …Tucker’s 16 assists vs. FIU tied Kentucky’s John Wall for the most in a game this season.
About the Mean Green: North Texas is 3-2 against teams leading or tied for the division lead in the Sun Belt Conference. …Center George Odufuwa leads the Sun Belt with 10.5 rebounds per game. …North Texas leads the all-time series 3-1,having never lost in Denton.
Projected starting lineups
FAU / Head coach Mike Jarvis
- G Ray Taylor 5-7 Fr. (14.3 ppg)
- G Alex Tucker 5-11 So. (5.5 ppg)
- G Greg Gantt 6-2, Fr. (15.8 ppg)
- G Sanchez Hughley 6-4 Jr. (10.4 ppg)
- F Brett Royster 6-8 Jr. (9.6 ppg)
North Texas / Head coach Johnnie Jones
- G Josh White 5-10 Jr. (14.6 ppg)
- G Tristan Thompson 6-5 Jr. (14.0 ppg)
- G Shannon Shorter 6-4 Jr. (6.5 ppg)
- F Eric Tramiel 6-7 Sr. (12.4 ppg)
- F George Odufwa 6-8 Sr. (11.3 ppg)