Career Performances from Adger, Niang Lift Owls to 73-71 Overtime Victory Over Illinois

Saturday, December 29

Champaign, Ill.

3 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

Illinois

4-9

OT 1

Fla. Atlantic

Illinois

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

Career Performances from Adger, Niang Lift Owls to 73-71 Overtime Victory Over Illinois

12/29/2018 8:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Anthony Adger's career-high 27 points, and Madiaw Niang's first career double-double powered the Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team to a 73-71 overtime win against Illinois on Saturday. The Owls improved to 9-4 with the win.

The Start

The game was a defensive minded affair in the early going, as both teams endured long scoreless stretches in the first half. The Illini (4-9) scored the final seven points of the frame to take a 26-21 lead into the locker room.

The Turning Point

FAU fought its way back into the lead and Jaylen Sebree hit a three-pointer that made the score 51-42 in the Owls' favor with less than six minutes left in regulation. Illinois rallied to tie the game at 63-all with 3.1 seconds to go. FAU had a heave at the buzzer, but the shot was offline, forcing an extra session.

The Finish

Richardson Maitre made a pair of free throws to give the Owls a 65-63 edge at the 3:41 mark of overtime, but Illinois scored four straight points to take a 67-65 advantage. On the ensuing FAU possession, Adger buried a triple to push the Owls ahead 68-67. Aaron Jordan answered with a three-pointer of his own, taking the lead back for the Illini, 70-68, at the 2:04 mark.

After an Aleksandar Zecevic jumper leveled the score at 70, Illinois split a pair at the line to retake a one-point cushion, 71-70. After an empty possession for each team, Jaylen Sebree was whistled for his fifth foul with 32 seconds to go. However, the Illini missed both attempts from the charity stripe. Maitre pushed the ball ahead to Adger who hit a jumper and drew the foul. Adger's free throw attempt was good and the Owls had a 73-71 cushion with 20 seconds left.

Fittingly, the Owls' defense, that had kept them in contention all afternoon, sealed the win by holding the Illini scoreless on their final possession.

Notables

· In addition to being a career-high, Adger's 27 points accounted for his third 20-point game of the season. Adger went 9-for-9 from the free throw line

· Niang posted career highs in points (12) and rebounds (14)

· The Owls finish their nonconference schedule with nine wins, tied for the most since joining Division I

· FAU had lost it last four games that went to overtime. It's last overtime win came coincidentally, against another Big Ten team, Ohio State, 79-77, on Dec. 6, 2016

· As a team, the Owls outrebounded Illinois 51-38. FAU improved to 8-1 on the year when collecting more rebounds than the opposition

Quotable

FAU Head Coach Dusty May

"It was an exciting game for our young guys. I feel like we had some guys grow up and really compete at a high level. I thought we did a great job on the glass."

Looking Ahead

FAU begins Conference USA play on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2019 at UAB. Tip-off is slated for 8 p.m. Eastern. Live audio can be heard on ESPN 106.3 FM. In-game updates will also be available at twitter.com/FAU_Hoops.