Owls Rally to Defeat Hofstra 62-60

Tuesday, November 22

Hempstead, N.Y.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

3-3

Hofstra

2-2

Florida Atlantic

Hofstra

11/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Nov. 22, 2011

Box Score

HEMPSTEAD, NY - Greg Gantt joined the 1,000 point club, but it was Alex Tucker who scored the game winning bucket in Florida Atlantic's 62-60 win over Hofstra on Tuesday night.

The game, similar to the previous two meetings was a back-and-forth affair the entire way. Neither team established a lead bigger than five points through the first 20 minutes. The Pride (2-2) had a chance to go up by seven headed to the half, but Shavar Richardson stole the ball to keep FAU (3-3) within five, 32-27 at the half.

Hofstra scored the first four points out of the intermission to go up by nine, but then the Owls scored 13 straight points, including six in a row by freshman Omari Grier, to take a 40-36 lead. Hofstra eventually rallied to tie the game, and neither team held a lead bigger than two points for the rest of the game.

Gantt scored his historic bucket with just under two minutes left in the game to put the Owls ahead 55-54. After Hofstra scored to regain the lead, Gantt hit a three-pointer off of a feed from Alex Tucker to put FAU ahead 58-56. The Pride scored again to tie the score at 60, when Alex Tucker stepped up. Tucker hit a driving layup to give the Owls a two-point advantage with two seconds left. Hofstra hit a miraculous tip-in, but an official review ruled that time had expired and gave the Owls the win.

Gantt ended the night with a game-high 21 points and becomes the eighth player in school history to score 1,000 career points. Pablo Bertone (11) was the only other Owl in double figures and added a career high eight rebounds.

FAU next faces USF on Saturday in a game to be held at the University of Tampa. Live audio of the game will be available at www.fausports.com.