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FAU guard Shavar Richardson scored a season-high 19 points after starting his first game of the season on Thursday vs. Troy (FAUOwlAccess.com file photo)
Late bloomers
FAU forward Justin Davis, guard Shavar Richardson and forward Kore White provided some unexpected spark in the Owls’ 77-60 victory vs. Troy on Thursday and the Owls are hoping it means they will contribute in the remaining games.
Originally published on
2/26/2011
by
Marcus Nelson
BOCA RATON – It turns out Thursday’s 77-60 victory vs. Troy was even more valuable to the Owls than it first appeared.
Not only did FAU clinch the best conference record in the Sun Belt Conference and an automatic bid to the NIT should it not win the Sun Belt Tournament, but the Owls also found out it may be able to get some production out of some players who hadn’t been much of factor lately.
Guard Shavar Richardson scored a game-high 19 points in his first start of the season, forward Kore White had 13 points and even Justin Davis contributed when he made the ceremonial start for senior night.
“This team has a lot of depth and on different nights it’s a different player,” said Richardson, who had four 3-pointers. “This was a game to start and I capitalized on the opportunity.”
And Davis played so well, FAU coach Mike Jarvis said he plans to start him in the regular-season finale on Sunday when the Owls face South Alabama in Mobile, Ala. in hopes of getting some rest for forwards Brett Royster, Jordan McCoy and White.
“I am going to try and continue to use Justin Davis at the beginning of the game” Jarvis said. “He may play the first four or five minutes in the game but every minute he plays is a minute less that Brett, Kore and Jordan McCoy have to play. That could really help us over a three-game stretch.”
FAU (20-9, 12-3 Sun Belt)
at South Alabama (12-14, 6-9 Sun Belt)
- When: Sunday, 5 p.m.
- Where: Mitchell Center, Mobile, Ala.
- Radio: ESPN 760 - AM
- Streaming live: ESPN760.com, FAUSports.com
- Official site: USAJaguars.com
- About the Owls: A victory would match a school-record most victories in a season. ...FAU won the first meeting of the season 65-57 on Jan. 6 ...The Owls trail the all-time series 7-3
- About the Jaguars: South Alabama is coming off a 92-79 victory over UALR on Thursday. ...Augustine Rubit leads the Sun Belt with 11.1 rebounds per game. ...Rubit is second in the SBC with a .566 field goal percentage
- Probable starting lineups
USA: Head coach Ronnie Arrow:
G Gary Redus 6-6 Sr. (8.6 ppg)
G Allyn Cooks 5-10 Jr. (8.7 ppg)
F Martino Brock 6-5 So. (14.3 ppg)
F Javier Carter 6-6 So. (5.0 ppg)
C Augustine Rubit 6-6 Fr. (13.0 ppg)
FAU: Head coach Mike Jarvis
G Raymond Taylor 5-5 So. (11.7 ppg.)
G Greg Gantt 6-2 So. (14.0 ppg.)
G Shavar Richardson 5-11 Sr. (5.8 ppg)
F Brett Royster 6-8 Sr. (8.1 ppg.)
F Justin Davis 6-10 Sr. (0.2 ppg.)