Monroe Scores 28 to Lead Owls in Home Opener

Tuesday, November 28

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Florida Memorial

11/28/2006 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 28, 2006

Box Score

BOCA RATON, FL (November 28, 2006) -- Carlos Monroe posted his second-career double-double with a career-high 28 points and 13 rebounds and three other players scored in double figures as the Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team earned a 94-60 victory over Florida Memorial at FAU Arena on Tuesday.

"I thought Florida Memorial played extremely hard," Head Coach Rex Walters said following his first-career home victory. "I'm happy our players shot the ball well and that helps our confidence."

Monroe shot 13-of-16 from the floor, a career-high in made field goals. Derrick Simmons (17) and Sean Alarcon (12) posted career-highs in points, while Avery Holley (seven points) and Enrique Rodriguez (three points) made their Owl debuts.

The Lions opened the game on a 7-2 run over the first 1:55 of the contest, but the Owls charged back with a 7-2 run of their own, capped off by a Sean Alarcon triple to tie the game at 9-9 with 16:52 left in the half.

Holley scored his first points as an Owl on a pair of free throws at the 12:09 mark to give FAU a 19-13 lead. Holley, also a wide receiver on the football team, joined the basketball squad following FAU's 31-0 victory over Florida International to complete the 2006 football campaign.

"I think Avery can really help us defensively and I feel pretty comfortable when the ball is in his hands on offense," Walters said. Holley had practiced with the team just three times prior to Tuesday's game.

A Monroe layup gave FAU its largest lead of the half at 34-20 with 7:11 remaining in the first frame and sparked the Owls to a 44-35 halftime lead. He would score a team-high 11 points in the half and grab seven rebounds. Simmons added nine first-half points on a 3-for-3 effort from the floor and a 3-for-4 first half from the charity stripe, while Graham contributed eight points and four assists. David Anderson set a career-high with three blocks in the first half.

The Owls have now won four straight against FMU and hold a 4-2 series edge. The Lions were led by Tramaine Stevens' 19 points on 8-of-18 shooting and were aided by Andre Beauford's 16 points. No other FMU player reached double-figures.

FAU (2-4) is off until Saturday when they welcome Norfolk State to FAU Arena. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.