Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus UCF on December 23, 2025 at 2 p.m.
2 p.m.
Men's Basketball
vs. UCF
Florida Atlantic University Athletics
Tuesday, December 23
Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
2 p.m.
Florida Atlantic
vs
UCF
Photo by: Keira Arimenta
Owls Back at Walt Disney World to Face UCF
12/22/2025 2:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – Florida Atlantic's men's basketball team is set for its non-conference finale, facing UCF at the "Holiday Festiball" at Walt Disney World Resort's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Tuesday, Dec. 23. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m.
The Owls (8-4) will take on the Knights (10-1) for the second straight year and will be at Disney for the second time in three seasons, where FAU's last visit in 2023 resulted in sweeping the three-game ESPN Events Invitational.
LAST TIME OUT
Playing in California for the first time since 2002, the Owls fell to Saint Mary's on Friday, Dec. 19 by a score of 88-75. Four Florida Atlantic players scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Josiah Parker, setting a new career high with 17 points.
ABOUT THE OWLS
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
UP NEXT
The Owls open American play on New Year's Eve, hosting UTSA at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
SCHEDULE
Click here for the 2025-26 schedule.
ROSTER
Click here for the full 2025-26 men's basketball roster.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things FAU men's basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB.
Florida Atlantic's 2025-26 season is sponsored by Phil Smith Kia/Phil Smith Acura.
The Owls (8-4) will take on the Knights (10-1) for the second straight year and will be at Disney for the second time in three seasons, where FAU's last visit in 2023 resulted in sweeping the three-game ESPN Events Invitational.
LAST TIME OUT
Playing in California for the first time since 2002, the Owls fell to Saint Mary's on Friday, Dec. 19 by a score of 88-75. Four Florida Atlantic players scored in double figures, led by freshman guard Josiah Parker, setting a new career high with 17 points.
ABOUT THE OWLS
- Head Coach John Jakus is in his second season at the helm of the program. In his debut campaign in 2024-25, he was a finalist for the Joe B. Hall Award, given to the nation's top first-year head coach. Under Jakus' watch, the Owls participated in their fourth straight year of postseason play, selected to the 2025 National Invitational Tournament.
- FAU boasts eight international players. In total, the Owls are represented by seven different countries: the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Senegal, and France.
- Redshirt sophomore guard Devin Vanterpool is off to a career-best start to the season, leading FAU in points per game (16.7), rebounds per game (7.0), and steals (18), and is second in assists (31) and blocks (8). His rebounds per game rank third nationally among guards 6'4 and shorter. Against Coastal Georgia, he scored 30 points, the first Owl to reach that mark since Johnell Davis in January of 2024.
- Junior guard Kanaan Carlyle reached 500 collegiate career points on December 13 against UAlbany, leading all active Owls. He logged 20+ points in three consecutive games, the first Florida Atlantic player to do so since Vlad Goldin in March of 2024. He is second on the team in points per game at 14.5 and leads in assists per game (3.1).
- As a team, the Owls are tied for No. 13 in the nation in blocks per game (5.8). Leading the category individually is redshirt sophomore forward Devin Williams at 2.9 per game. He ranks No. 8 nationwide.
- Parker was named the American Conference's Preseason Freshman of the Year and earned two Freshman of the Week awards.
- Sophomore forward Maxim Logue is coming off his best game of the season against Saint Mary's, with 15 points on 6-for-9 shooting and eight rebounds, six of them offensive.
- Florida Atlantic was ranked sixth in the American's preseason poll.
ABOUT THE KNIGHTS
- The Knights are led by Head Coach Johnny Dawkins in his 10th season with the program.
- Fifth-year guard Themus Fulks dishes out 6.7 assists per game, 12th nationwide.
- As a team, the Knights haul in 14.9 offensive rebounds per game, ranking No. 6 in Division I.
- UCF converts 40.4% of its three-point attempts, No. 8 nationally. In its most recent outing, the team set its program record in three-pointers in a game with 19 on December 20.
- Four players average double-digit scoring, led by junior forward Jordan Burks at 13.7 points per game.
- The Owls and Knights have faced off 33 times previously, most recently on November 12, 2024 where UCF won 100-94.
UP NEXT
The Owls open American play on New Year's Eve, hosting UTSA at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. Tip-off is at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.
SCHEDULE
Click here for the 2025-26 schedule.
ROSTER
Click here for the full 2025-26 men's basketball roster.
FOLLOW THE OWLS
To stay up to date on all things FAU men's basketball, follow the Owls on social media @FAUMBB.
Florida Atlantic's 2025-26 season is sponsored by Phil Smith Kia/Phil Smith Acura.
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's BasketballWeekly Media w/ Head Coach John Jakus
Monday, December 22
Get to Know Amar Amkou
Friday, December 19
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 Hoops Show #3
Wednesday, December 17
Inside the Owls Burrow 2025-26 Hoops Show #2
Wednesday, December 17