Florida Atlantic Rally Falls Short at Savannah State

Wednesday, February 18

Savannah, Ga.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

Savannah State

2/18/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Feb. 18, 2009

Final Stats

SAVANNAH, GA - Florida Atlantic nearly overcame a 25-point deficit in the second half before falling to Savannah State 79-66. Paul Graham III scored 17 of his game-high 21 after the intermission, but the homestanding Tigers had built up a 42-18 halftime lead and hung on for the win.

Florida Atlantic (6-22) remains winless in 15 road games this season. Brett Royster helped Graham fuel the Owls' comeback bid, finishing with 15 points and four blocks. FAU trailed by just six with 3:30 remaining.

Savannah State (13-14) sees its home record improve to 11-3. Earlier this season the Tigers took Michigan into overtime in Ann Arbor and beat FAU's Sun Belt Conference rival New Orleans 54-44.

Chris Linton scored 20 points for the Tigers and Tracy Rankins added 17. Savannah has won 13 games for the first time since turning Division I in 2002.

"Our defense really hurt us tonight," said FAU head coach Mike Jarvis after the game. "Even though we played well in the second half that will not be momentum going into Saturday's game, we were down by too many."

The teams combined to start the game 8-for-25 from the field before an Anthony Jones 3-pointer put Savannah State up 15-8 after the first seven minutes. Jones made three triples in the first half and finished with 15 points.

FAU remained cold in the early-going, making just 4 of its first 24 shots and going 0-for-9 from beyond the arc in the first 20 minutes.

Despite the return of Owls senior forward Carlos Monroe, who played seven first-half minutes, Savannah State turned a 24-14 lead at the 5:07 mark into a bona-fide rout by halftime, 42-18.

Monroe favored his injured foot after the intermission and would not play in the second half.

Graham was terrific in the second half scoring off the dribble but it seemed to be more of what FAU wasn't doing on the defensive end.

Savannah State shot 49% from the field and following a Carderro Nwoji trey which cut the Tiger's lead to 55-39 at the 11:30 mark, an immediate Rankins triple extended the advantage back to 19.

Graham gave FAU hope, converting a 3-point play the old-fashioned way, pulling the Owls to within 13, 60-47, with 8:58 on the clock. A subsequent Royster layup, followed by two-handed slam from Royster on FAU's next possession sparked a 12-0 Owls' run.

Florida Atlantic cut what had been a 25-point second-half deficit down to six, 64-59, with 3:30 remaining.

Florida Atlantic continues its late-season schedule 7 p.m. Saturday night at the FAU Arena against Middle Tennessee State - FAU's final home game of the season.

Join basketball coaches Mike Jarvis and Chancellor Dugan for the inside scoop on FAU hoops Friday, February 20 from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. The `Coffee with the Coaches' event will be held in the Founders Room at Florida Atlantic University's Oxley Center, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.