Owls Nipped By USF 60-58

Sunday, December 29

Tampa, Fla.

5 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

-85,00 CUSA

USF

7-6,0-0AAC

FAU

South Fla.

2019 FAU Men's Basketball vs Old Dominion

Photo by: JC Ridley/Owlpix.com

12/29/2019 8:45:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

TAMPA, Fla. - The Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team lost to USF 60-58 on Sunday. The Owls finished their non-conference schedule with an 8-5 record.

How It Happened

A bucket in the paint by Karlis Silins, a 3-pointer by Richardson Maitre and a Kenan Blackshear free throw put the Owls up 6-5 in the early going. The Bulls (7-6) responded with five straight points to take a 10-5 lead.

The Owls were able to stay within striking distance in the first half, due in part to forcing seven USF turnovers and matching the Bulls with 17 rebounds in the game's first 20 minutes. Aleksandar Zecevic hit a 3-pointer to pull FAU to within four at 30-26, but USF scored the final five points of the frame, and held a 35-26 lead at the break.

After the Bulls hit a triple to go up by a dozen, Silins asserted himself on both ends of the floor. He scored eight points and drew an offensive foul in the first five minutes of the second half, helping the Owls pull to within four, 40-36.

A Jailyn Ingram basket tied the game, 41-41, with 13 minutes to play. USF answered with four straight points, but Michael Forrest sandwiched a pair of 3-pointers around two Madiaw Niang free throws, giving FAU a 49-45 edge with 7:35 remaining.

Everett Winchester converted a layup, Ingram was successful on a 3-point attempt and Forrest scored in the paint, capping a run that saw FAU outscore the Bulls 30-11 in the first 15 minutes of the second half.

However, USF scored 11 of the next 13 points, taking a 60-58 lead with five seconds to play. The Owls had a chance at a game-tying shot, but the attempt was off, allowing USF to escape with the win.

Notables

Silins led the Owls with 12 points
Ingram scored nine points, pulled down five rebounds and dished out three assists
Forrest registered eight points and three rebounds. He also made two 3-pointers, extending his personal streak of games with at least one made triple to 14 in a row, stretching back to last season.
11 Owls played in the game, with 10 of them scoring
Despite the loss, FAU has collected 17 non-conference wins over the last two seasons, the most in any two-year stretch since the program moved to Division I

Quotable

FAU Head Coach Dusty May
On his team's play during the non-conference schedule…
"We've certainly improved since early November. We're starting to figure out our rotation. More than anything else, (I like) the direction we're going."

What's Next

The Owls begin Conference USA play on Thursday, Jan. 2 when they host UTSA. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+. Live stats will be available at fausports.com. The game can be heard on FOX Sports 640AM. Live updates will be posted to the team's official Twitter account, @FAU_Hoops. Tickets for the game can be purchased here.