FAU Outlasts FIU in OT, Stretches Winning Streak to 14

Wednesday, January 11

Miami, Fla.

7:30 p.m.

Florida Atlantic

-151,50 CUSA

FIU

-88,23 CUSA

OT 1

Fla. Atlantic

FIU

1/12/2023 12:26:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

MIAMI – The Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team has been put to the test during its school-record 14-game winning streak. Against FIU on Wednesday night, the Owls had their backs to the wall in a highly contested ballgame. Once again, FAU found a way to win, grinding out a 77-73 overtime battle to improve to 15-1 and 5-0 in Conference USA action while keeping the nation's second-longest winning streak alive.

The Florida Atlantic Owls trailed 62-55 with 5:34 remaining yet got right back in it with a 9-2 stretch to tie the game at 64-64. Alijah Martin converted a crucial and-one to tie the game up at 64-64 with 1:41 to play. Johnell Davis hit a jumper to put FAU ahead, 66-64 with 55 seconds left. FIU tied it to force the Owls' first overtime game of the season.

In the extra session, Davis knocked down a pair of free throws that pushed FAU ahead 72-70. After FIU got the ball back, Vladislav Goldin came up with a massive block on the other end to keep the Owls ahead with 36 seconds left. The dagger came on the next possession from Michael Forrest, who knocked down a corner 3-pointer to push FAU ahead, 75-70. The Panthers countered with a 3-pointer, but Forrest iced it with two more free throws to give the Owls the wild win.

Quotes From Coach May

"Once again, I applaud the poise of our guys; on the bench, on the court, their togetherness, their belief in each other," FAU head coach Dusty May said. "It's next man up, every night there's someone different making big plays, and we did so tonight against a very determined and feisty FIU team. They played well, hats off to those guys. It was a great college basketball game, and fortunately we made enough plays at the end to win."

Stats & Notes

Davis led the charge with 17 points
Forrest tallied 12 points, including the biggest five of the night and the last five for the Owls. He also contributed on the glass with a career-high nine rebounds
Martin tallied 12 points, four rebounds and three assists
Nick Boyd scored 12 points and knocked down 3-of-5 from 3-point range
Goldin recorded nine points, seven rebounds and three steals
The Owls' bench outscored the Panthers' bench by a 44-10 margin. Entering tonight's game, FAU had the number one bench in the nation with an average of 36.9 points per game

North Texas Up Next

Another massive conference game awaits FAU, as the Owls will welcome the Mean Green of North Texas to Boca Raton on Jan. 14. Tip time in Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena is at 2 p.m.

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