Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Thursday, November 30
Boca Raton, Fla.
6 p.m.
Florida Atlantic
vs
Liberty
No. 13 Owls Host Field of 68 Tip-off
11/29/2023 3:50:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 13 Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team (5-1) will host the three-team Field of 68 Tip-Off from Thursday, Nov. 30 to Saturday Dec. 2. First up is a matchup against Liberty (7-0) on Thursday at 6 p.m.
This marks the first of a three-year series between Florida Atlantic, Charleston, and Liberty, who will alternate host sites.
For the Owls, they return to the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena as champions of the eight-team ESPN Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend and will look to continue their momentum with the two-game homestand.
Florida Atlantic's 2023-24 season is sponsored by Phil Smith Kia/Phil Smith Acura.
Florida Atlantic stepped foot into Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and left a champion. Over the course of the four-day ESPN Events Invitational, the Owls racked up wins against Butler, No. 14 Texas A&M, and a 84-50 blowout victory over Virginia Tech in the title game. While tournament MVP and AAC Player of the Week Alijah Martin led the team with 18.3 points per game along with 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals, the offense did not just come from him. The team as a whole averaged 90.3 points on 54.2% shooting from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. Four other players averaged in double figures: junior guard Johnell Davis (17.5 ppg), junior forward Vlad Goldin (14.3), as well as senior guards Jalen Gaffney (11.7) and Bryan Greenlee (11.0).
The Owls showcased their versatility and ability to win in different ways. When the outside shots weren't falling against Butler, the team went physical inside with 46 of 91 points coming in the paint. They would rediscover their three-point shot in the 96-89 win over No.14 Texas A&M, shooting 53% from downtown with Davis and Martin combining for 51 points on 11 three-pointers. The crushing win over VA Tech saw the best defensive performance of the Owls season, holding the Hokies to 33% shooting and 2-17 from three.
The Owls' second game as part of the Field of 68 Classic will be against Charleston (4-3) on Saturday, Dec. 2. Tip-off time and TV will be same as Thursday: 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
To stay up to date on all things FAU men's basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB.
This marks the first of a three-year series between Florida Atlantic, Charleston, and Liberty, who will alternate host sites.
For the Owls, they return to the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena as champions of the eight-team ESPN Invitational over Thanksgiving weekend and will look to continue their momentum with the two-game homestand.
Florida Atlantic's 2023-24 season is sponsored by Phil Smith Kia/Phil Smith Acura.
| No. 13 Florida Atlantic (5-1) vs. Liberty (7-0) | |
| Game Details | Thursday, Nov. 30 | 6 p.m. (EST) | Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena | Boca Raton, Fla. | Arena A-Z Guide |
| Game Coverage | Live Stats | ESPNU | Game Notes |
| Florida Atlantic Links | Roster | Schedule | News |
| Liberty Links | Roster | Schedule | News |
| Social Media | X | Instagram | Facebook |
Last Time Out
Florida Atlantic stepped foot into Disney World's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and left a champion. Over the course of the four-day ESPN Events Invitational, the Owls racked up wins against Butler, No. 14 Texas A&M, and a 84-50 blowout victory over Virginia Tech in the title game. While tournament MVP and AAC Player of the Week Alijah Martin led the team with 18.3 points per game along with 5.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals, the offense did not just come from him. The team as a whole averaged 90.3 points on 54.2% shooting from the field and 43% from beyond the arc. Four other players averaged in double figures: junior guard Johnell Davis (17.5 ppg), junior forward Vlad Goldin (14.3), as well as senior guards Jalen Gaffney (11.7) and Bryan Greenlee (11.0).
The Owls showcased their versatility and ability to win in different ways. When the outside shots weren't falling against Butler, the team went physical inside with 46 of 91 points coming in the paint. They would rediscover their three-point shot in the 96-89 win over No.14 Texas A&M, shooting 53% from downtown with Davis and Martin combining for 51 points on 11 three-pointers. The crushing win over VA Tech saw the best defensive performance of the Owls season, holding the Hokies to 33% shooting and 2-17 from three.
Stats & Notes
- In their five victories, Florida Atlantic is averaging 89.2 points per game, which would rank 12th in the nation over the course of the season
- The Owls have been able to start strong each time they have stepped onto the court, leading at halftime in all six of their games this season
- Dating back to last season, Martin has a team-high 14 consecutive games with a three-point field goal
- Not only is Goldin leading the team in scoring (14.8 ppg), he has a team-high 13 blocks and has recorded at least three blocks in three games
- Davis has posted double figure points in five out of six games and currently leads FAU in rebounds (6.5)
Upcoming
The Owls' second game as part of the Field of 68 Classic will be against Charleston (4-3) on Saturday, Dec. 2. Tip-off time and TV will be same as Thursday: 6 p.m. on ESPNU.
Follow the Owls
To stay up to date on all things FAU men's basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB.
Players Mentioned
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