The Florida Atlantic Owls Men Basketball Team has done it again. What have they done, you may ask? On a windy night in Boca Raton, the Owls (21-1) hosted WKU (11-11) for the 2nd time in 10 days. FAU, having one of the best seasons in the country, came into the game red-hot with a 19-game win streak. The Hilltoppers, who are experiencing a rough patch, would look to go in and put a stop to their winning. The Owls would end up leaving with their 20th win of the season, making it 20 in a row and showing their character in the process.
It was not the prettiest game played by either team, but The Owls managed to come out on top. In the 1st period, both teams were riddled with turnovers and missed shots. The Owls, ending the game with 14 turnovers, committed 6 of those in the first. Eight of the Hilltoppers who achieved 11 fouls came in first. It was clear from the beginning of the game that whichever team could gain its composure first would take the reins. The defense was the backbone of gaining composure. Both sides shot just 33% from the field, and both made 12 FG, but the difference was in the 3pt success of the Owls. Fau made seven three-pointers in the first half compared to WKU’s two three-pointers. In the first period, Brandon Weatherspoon for the Owls hit 4 3 pointers, which would be all his 1st half-points. Two of those three-pointers stopped crucial runs that mounted against the Owls. And you saw this time and time again from the owls. Every time WKU would make a run, the owls would get a layup here or a jump shot there enough to stop the drought and keep momentum at bay. Toward the end of the 1st period, one could see how this game played out. The Owls would go on a 7-0 run to end the half, giving them a 30-35 lead over WKU.
The Owls would look to expand and keep the momentum they had at the end of the 1st period, And they would do just that. The Owls would turn to its bench, which ranks in the top 5 in the nation. FAU would continue to play tough defense and rely upon winning timely baskets from guard Nick Boyd and Johnell Davis. WKU would never back down, though. Starting guard Emmanuel Akon would have 16 2nd half-points in a close effort to bring the Hilltoppers back. At one point, the game was 60-63, with the Hilltoppers having momentum. A few keys stops from the Owls’ defense would see this hard-fought battle to end in FAU’s favor, 70-63.
In a game where their offense was not the most efficient, shooting just 37% from the field, the owls hung their hat in defense and made open three when they presented themselves. FAU will be back in action on Thursday, Feb 2, to take on UAB in what is sure to be a great gal between two C-USA opponents
Stat Leader:
FAU:
Leading Scorer: #23 Brandon Weatherspoon 14 pts, 6 rebs, 0 ast, 4-6 FG
Leading Rebounder: #15 Alijah Martin 8 pts, 7 reb, 1 ast, 4-14 FG
Assit Leader: #4 Brya Greenline 6 pts, 5 reb, 5 ast, 2-7 FG
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