FAU Holds Off Rollins In Final Exhibition

Monday, November 10

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Rollins

11/10/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Nov. 10, 2008

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic used a 15-2 second-half run to pull away from Division II Rollins College and win its final exhibition tune-up 61-56 Monday night at the FAU Arena.

Paul Graham III scored 16, including a pair of 3-pointers during FAU's decisive run and senior classmate Carderro Nwoji finished with a game-high 17.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Jarvis, Florida Atlantic will officially open its 2008-09 season at home Friday night against Monmouth.

Rollins made seven 3-point baskets in the first half, three by 6-foot-6 sophomore guard Nick Wolf. Wolf finished with 15 to lead the Tars.

FAU's all-conference forward Carlos Monroe was held scoreless throughout the first 22 minutes. The combination of Graham, Nwoji and Xavier Perkins accounted for 29 of the Owls' 33 first-half points. FAU needed a buzzer-beater by Nwoji to even the game up, 33-33, at halftime.

With Rollins holding its largest lead of the night, 46-42, with 12:20 to play, a Monroe dunk sparked FAU's second-half surge. Monroe - already FAU's all-time rebounding leader - finished with 16 boards.

Graham extended the run with a pair of 3-pointers, the second giving FAU a 57-48 lead with 5:35 on the clock.

Rollins rallied to close the gap and had a legitimate chance at pulling the upset, trailing by two, 58-56, with just over one minute to play.

After a missed basket and subsequent Monroe rebound, Rollins head coach Tom Klusman was whistled for a technical foul. By the time the Tars regained possession, just 23 seconds remained on the clock and FAU led by what turned out to be the final score, 61-56.