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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.
Players Mentioned
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