Men's Hoops Edges FIU 80-78 in OT

Saturday, February 19

Miami, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

19-9, 11-3SBC

FIU

9-17, 4-10SBC

OT 1

Florida Atlantic

FIU

2/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score

MIAMI, FL - Jordan McCoy scored a career high 19 points in the Florida Atlantic men's basketball team's 80-78 overtime victory on Saturday.

FAU (19-9, 11-3 Sun Belt) led by nine late in the first half when the Golden Panthers (9-17, 4-10) scored nine in a row to tie the score at 30. Shavar Richardson hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to send the Owls to the locker room up 33-30.

The Owls then hit just one field over the next eight minutes and FIU took advantage, taking a 58-49 lead. Back-to-back three-point plays by Brett Royster and McCoy pulled FAU to within three, but the Golden Panthers responded once again, stretching the lead back to seven. The Owls fought their way back to tie the game at 70, aided by two threes from Raymond Taylor.

After Dominique Ferguson hit a layup to put FIU ahead, Greg Gantt drew a goaltending call to tie the score once again, this time at 72. FIU had a chance to win the game in regulation, but McCoy stole the ball from DeJuan Wright and sent the game to overtime.

FIU scored the first four points of the extra session, but McCoy split two trips to the free throw line, followed by a three from Gantt that put the Owls ahead. The Golden Panthers had the ball and a chance to win but Taylor forced a turnover with three seconds left. Taylor split the pair and Gantt stole FIU's ensuing inbounds pass to preserve the win.

The win gives the Owls their most conference wins (11) since joining the Sun Belt, Gantt had a career high nine rebounds to go along with 21 points and FAU clinched the East Division title.

They will return to Boca Raton, where they host Troy on Thursday in the home regular season finale. Live stats and live audio will be available for the 7 p.m. start will be available at www.fausports.com.