Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Florida Atlantic Draws No. 21 Davidson in NIT
11/19/2008 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 19, 2008
Game Notes in PDF Format 
NIT Bracket in PDF Format
FLORIDA ATLANTIC (3-1) @ No. 21 DAVIDSON (3-1)
Monday, Nov. 24, 2008 - John M. Belk Arena (5,223)
Davidson, N.C. - 8:00 p.m. ET
FLORIDA ATLANTIC vs. JAMES MADISON
Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2008 - John M. Belk Arena (5,223)
Davidson, N.C. - 5:45 p.m. ET
**BOTH GAMES ON LIVE RADIO WFTL 640 AM
GAMES #5/6: Florida Atlantic will play No. 21 Davidson at the Wildcats' John M. Belk Arena Monday, November 24 at 8 p.m. ET. Davidson was chosen as a consolation round site in the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off tournament, where FAU will also face James Madison Tuesday, November 25 at 5:45 p.m. ET.
THE SERIES: FAU and Davidson will be meeting for the first time. FAU and James Madison played a home-and-home series in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The Dukes won both times, first in Harrisonburg 71-57 on December 16, 2002 and a year later at the FAU Arena 73-70 on December 20, 2003.
TV/RADIO/INTERNET: All of FAU's regular-season games (home and away) will air live on commercial radio WFTL - 640 AM with additional audio links available via FAUSPORTS.com. Dave Lamont (play-by-play) will call both games in Davidson.
GAME NOTES:
Mike Jarvis has the Owls off to the program's first 3-1 start in 20 years and FAU is 3-1 for the first time in its 15-year Division I history.
Florida Atlantic is making its first-ever appearance in the NIT.
Since 2005 FAU is averaging just four wins per season away from home.
FAU is coming off a 77-59 win over UMKC Saturday in Boca Raton.
Senior guard Paul Graham III became the 7th player in FAU history to score 1,000-points after scoring 16 against UMKC
Graham leads the Owls in scoring at 17.0 per game
The Owls continue to play without all-conference forward Carlos Monroe, who has missed the first four games due to an eligibility issue.
Freshman guard Shavar Richardson (12.8 ppg/4.3 rpg) has led the team in scoring in each of the last two games (18 vs. UMKC/17 vs. Santa Clara)
True freshman forward Chris Watson (8.3 rpg) is the Owls' leading rebounder
Senior point guard Carderro Nwoji has committed just 3 turnovers in 141 minutes this season. Nwoji is also 14-15 (93%) from the free throw line.
New career-highs - sophomores Xavier Perkins (17 points) and Brett Royster (4 blocks) - established in FAU's win over UMKC Saturday night.
FAU is picked to finish fourth in the SBC East Division, behind South Alabama, Western Kentucky and preseason league favorite Middle Tennessee St.
The Owls will next play at McNeese State Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. ET
PROBABLE STARTERS: (based on last game)
PG - #12 Carderro Nwoji [6-0, 175, Sr., Wichita, KS] - 11.8 ppg/3.5 apg
Exceptional ball-handler, just three turnovers in 141 minutes... 87 percent career from free throw line... Threat from 3-point range... Sun Belt's top returner in assists
G - #25 Paul Graham III [6-5, 190, Sr., Philadelphia, PA] -17.0 ppg/3.5 rpg
Has averaged 14+ points per game for two-straight seasons...Sixth all-time at FAU in points scored (1,014)... 43% shooter from 3-point range this season (10-for-23)
G - #24 Xavier Perkins [6-4, 225, So., Delray Beach, FL] - 8.8 ppg/4.5 rpg
Physical, athletic guard from nearby Delray Beach... Gets to the free-throw line more than any other FAU player (18 times this season)... Scored a career-high 17 points vs. UMKC Saturday.
F - #3 Chris Watson [6-6, 210, Fr., Daytona Beach, FL] - 8.8 ppg/8.3 rpg
Oustanding leaper, adds depth and athleticism to front court... Grabbed 15 rebounds against Arizona... Also recruited to play football at FAU.
C - #40 Brett Royster [6-8, 220, So., Arlington, TX] - 7.0 ppg/3.5 rpg
Lanky, shot-blocker... Set FAU's freshman record for blocks (41) last season... Scored a career-high 12 points in FAU's season-opener against Monmouth... Had a career-high 4 blocks vs. UMKC
FLORIDA ATLANTIC: Head coach Mike Jarvis has done a remarkable job in the early stages of his fourth collegiate coaching stop. He has FAU off to its best-ever Division I start (3-1). Nothing new for Jarvis however, who led each of his three previous schools into postseason play in his first-year - Boston U. (1986 NIT) George Washington (1991 NIT) and St. John's (2000 NCAAs). Playing without preseason mid-major All-America pick Carlos Monroe (FAU's all-time leading rebounder), who is working through an eligibility issue, senior guard Paul Graham III has been able to lead FAU to a series of early-season victories. Graham is averaging 17 points per night, making 43% of his 3-point attempts and 83% of his free-throws. Two freshmen have made immediate - and much needed - contributions. Rookies Shavar Richardson (12.8 ppg) and Chris Watson (8.8 rpg) have been impressive in their first collegiate seasons thus far. If FAU wants to have a winning record heading into the bulk of its Sun Belt state in January they will have to play well on the road. The Owls have just three non-conference home games on its 2008-09 schedule (and have already played two). After a Dec. 13 home game with SE Louisiana, the Owls will not play again at the FAU Arena until Jan. 1 vs. South Alabama.
DAVIDSON: Davison (3-1) is currently ranked No. 21 nationally in the latest Associated Press Top 25. The Wildcats are averaging 95.2 points per game - making over 10 3-pointers per night. All-America candidate Stephen Curry, the 2007-08 SOCON "Player of the Year," is averaging a staggering 34.0 points per game. Curry scored 30 and had 13 assists in the Wildcats' 97-70 win over reigning Big South champs Winthrop on Friday night. Davidson was 29-7 and would have made the Final Four last season if it was not for a two-point loss to eventual national champion Kansas in the Elite Eight. Davidson has won the SoCon title three-straight years and has made three-straight NCAA tournament appearances.
JAMES MADISON: The Dukes (2-1) will play Loyola (Md.) Monday night at Davidson's John M. Belk Arena before playing FAU Tuesday. James Madison, out of the Colonial Athletic Association, was 13-17 last season. They are picked to finish ninth in the 12-team league this year. JMU is under the direction of first-year head coach Matt Brady, who was the head coach at Marist from 2004-08. Brady and the Dukes opened the season with a 99-64 loss to Davidson in the opening round of the NIT in Norman, Oklahoma. They bounced back to win its second game in Norman, 62-54 over Mississippi Valley State. JMU entered the NIT's 16-team field as a No. 12 seed.
NEXT UP: FAU will play at McNeese State (1-2) the day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 28 at 8 p.m. ET. McNeese State beat FAU last season 64-59 in Boca Raton and went on to finish 15-17 and 9-6 in the Southland. The Cowboys beat ULM 82-63 in Monroe Thursday night. They have also lost at TCU (68-64) and at Tulane (68-62).
NEXT HOME GAME: Saturday, December 13 at 7 p.m. vs. SE Louisiana. For tickets or more information call 1-866-FAU-OWLS.
