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Two weeks ago FAU sat in the middle of Conference USA’s pack, primed to make a run at the best C-USA tournament seed in program history.
Following Saturday’s 79-68 loss at Marshall, the Owls are once again struggling to secure a berth in conference tournament.
FAU has now dropped four consecutive games. The losing streak would be seven games if not for Justin Massey’s 30-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to beat lowly Rice three weekends ago.
The Owls opened the weekend with a 75-63 loss at Western Kentucky on Thursday.
FAU remains stuck at four wins in Conference USA play. Only three C-USA teams – UTEP, Rice and Charlotte – have fewer wins in conference play. Only 12 of the 14 C-USA teams qualify for the conference tournament.
The Owls still have games against Rice and Charlotte remaining during the final three weeks. The Owls already own wins over those teams earlier in the season.
Saturday’s loss to Marshall, C-USA’s No. 4 seed if the tournament began tomorrow, followed a similar script to many of the Owls’ recent shortcomings. FAU held the game close before faltering in the closing minutes.
Ronald Delph’s lay-in with 8:15 remaining pulled FAU within a point of Marshall, 60-59. The Thundering Herd proceeded to score the next 11 points and the Owls never truly threatened again.
GameBrowser: Marshall (17-8, 8-4) 79, FAU (10-15, 4-9) 68
Moving Forward: Center Ronald Delph paced the Owls with 21 points and 11 rebounds. …Guard Justin Massey was the only other Owl to achieve double digits in scoring with 12 points. …Starting forward William Pfister only scored two points, but he did grab 14 rebounds.
Moving Backward: Expected to be the Owl who could create offense for FAU, Jailyn Ingram managed only five points. …Starting point guard Payton Hulsey missed eight of his 10 shots. …FAU shot 34.2 percent from the field.
Key Stat: 5 – Made field goals in 24 combined attempts for FAU point guards Hulsey and Anthony Adger.
Up Next: FAU doesn’t play a Thursday game this week. The Owls return to the court on Saturday against FIU. Tip-off at The Burrow is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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