Stalled

FAU’s new up-tempo offense operated on island time in a season-opening 61-57 loss to Texas St. at the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii.

The Owls took a two-point lead into the half, but the Bobcats used a 9-0 run that spanned the break to to take the lead early in the second half and led most of the way thereafter. Texas St. led by 11 midway through the second half before surviving a late FAU charge.

FAU drew within four with 60 seconds to play, but two turnovers in the final minute, one by Nick Rutherford and the other by Frank Booker, doomed the comeback.

Poor shooting and turnovers plagued the Owls throughout the night. FAU shot only 33 percent on the night, converting five of 26 attempts from inside the lane.

“We have to make those,” FAU coach Michael Curry told ESPN West Palm’s postgame show. “A lot of stuff we did was self inflicted.”

The Owls have lost all three season-openers during Curry’s tenure as Owls’ coach. FAU last won its opener in 2013 against Ave Maria.

GameBrowser: Texas St. 61, FAU 57

Moving Forward: Adonis Filer didn’t start, but came off the bench to score nine points, which led the Owls. …Playing their first game for FAU, William Pfister and Marcus Neely both scored eight points, Neely doing so off the bench. …Nick Rutherford also added eight points. …FAU out-rebounded Texas St. 38-34.

Moving Back: Balanced scoring has its merits, but when the leading scorer at halftime only has two field goals and five points, as Rutherford did, the first-half point total won’t be intimidating. …Center Ronald Delph committed five turnovers. …FAU converted only 11 of its 17 free throw attempts (64.7 percent)

Key Stat: 16 – turnovers committed by FAU.

Up Next: FAU faces Southern Illinois-Edwardsville on Sunday in the Rainbow Classic. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.