Owls Outlast UCF 75-64

Tuesday, December 3

Boca Raton, Fla.

7:00 PM

Florida Atlantic

2-6

UCF

3-3

UCF

Florida Atlantic

12/3/2013 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Dec. 3, 2013

Box Score FAU-UCF Photo Gallery (Credit Josh Fryd)

BOCA RATON, FL - Pablo Bertone scored a career high for the second game in a row, helping the Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team to a 75-64 win over UCF on Tuesday night.

The Owls (2-6) and the Knights (3-3) traded the lead throughout the early portion of the game, with neither team able to seize firm control of the contest. FAU trailed by one, 15-14, when Justin Raffington scored eight of the Owls' next 11 points to help put FAU up 25-22. FAU held a 35-32 advantage at the break.

UCF briefly led early in the second half, but FAU responded with a 13-3 run to take a 50-41 lead. The Owls' margin ballooned to as many as 13, before the Knights rallied to within five at the 3:49 mark. Jackson Trapp made a layup and Dragan Sekelja split a trip to the charity stripe to push the spread back to eight. Later in the half, Marquan Botley made a free throw, followed by a Bertone steal and score to ice the win for the Owls.

Bertone's 31 points is the most by an Owl since Greg Gantt scored 31 vs. Western Kentucky on February 14, 2013. He was joined in double digits by Trapp (13) and Botley (11). FAU outrebounded an opponent for the fourth time this season. Raffington scored eight points to go along with a career high 12 rebounds.

The Owls will face another in-state rival on Saturday, when they host Jacksonville. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. Live stats and live video of the game will be available at fausports.com. Audio of the game will also be available on ESPN 106.3 FM. Saturday's game is also FAU Faculty and Staff Day, members of the FAU Faculty and Staff can purchase tickets for as little as $7. For tickets, call the FAU Ticket Office at 1-866-FAU-OWLS.