Florida Atlantic on the Road at UAB Before Hosting Memphis

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Florida Atlantic's men's basketball team will conclude its two-game road trip in Birmingham, Alabama, facing UAB on Wednesday, Jan. 7 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. This will be followed by a return home to Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, where they will play Memphis on Sunday, Jan. 11, at 1 p.m. on ESPN2.

The Owls (9-6, 1-1) will look to achieve their first road victory against the Blazers (10-5, 1-1) and build a winning record in American play after splitting the first two games.

Sunday's matchup between FAU and the Tigers (7-7, 2-0) is sponsored by Shiner Law Group and will be a White Out.

LAST TIME OUT
The Owls opened their third year of American Conference play with a 40-point 110-70 blowout win over UTSA at home on Dec. 31, their largest league victory since 2021. FAU then dropped a road game to Tulane by a score of 69-66 on Jan. 4, a back-and-forth outing that saw 14 lead changes and 10 ties.

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 has totaled two American Conference weekly honorable mentions and is off to a career-best start to the season. He leads FAU in points per game (16.4), rebounds per game (6.5), and steals (20), is second in blocks (11), and third in assists (35). His rebounds per game rank ninth 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. Vanterpool has totaled two American Conference honorable mentions.
Junior guard Kanaan Carlyle reached 500 collegiate career points on Dec. 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 14.3 and leads in assists per game (3.3). Against UCF, he hauled in a collegiate career high of 11 rebounds.
Guard Josiah Parker, the American Conference's Preseason Freshman of the Year, has won two weekly awards after scoring 16 points on 7-for-8 shooting in the Owls' comeback win over Florida Gulf Coast on Dec. 7 and then 17 points against Saint Mary's on Dec. 19.
Sophomore guard Isaiah Elohim has reached the double-digit scoring mark in seven straight games. He has the most 10+ point games out of any Owl on the season with 11.
As a team, the Owls are No. 12 in the nation in blocks per game (5.9). Leading the category individually is redshirt sophomore forward Devin Williams at 2.7 per game, ranking No. 8 nationwide.
Florida Atlantic was ranked sixth in the American's preseason poll.

ABOUT THE BLAZERS

UAB is led by Head Coach Andy Kennedy, now in his sixth season leading the program.
Five players are averaging double-digit scoring, led by sophomore guard Chance Westry at 15.7 points per game.
Junior forward Evan Chatman leads UAB on the boards with 8.3 rebounds per game.
The Blazers rank No. 1 in the conference and No. 23 nationwide with 16.9 fastbreak points per game.
FAU and UAB's history dates back to 2008, with 22 meetings between the two teams. The Blazers have won 16 of them, including the last three.

ABOUT THE TIGERS

Head Coach Penny Hardaway remains the longest tenured in the American in his eighth season at the helm of Memphis.
Senior guard Dug McDaniel leads the team in points per game (14.5), assists per game (5.1), and steals per game (2.3)
As a team, the Tigers hold opponents to 40.7% shooting from the field, the best defensive mark in the conference.
Memphis consistently provides scoring off the bench, with 33.6 per game.
The Tigers hold the all-time series against the Owls 4-2.

UP NEXT
The Owls will remain at the Elly to host Wichita State on Thursday, Jan. 15, at 9 p.m. on ESPN2 before a road game in Philadelphia, facing Temple on Sunday, Jan. 18, on ESPNU.

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.

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Players Mentioned

Kanaan Carlyle

Isaiah Elohim

Josiah Parker

Devin Vanterpool

Devin Williams

Upcoming Events

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at UAB on January 7, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. ET

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Memphis on January 11, 2026 at 1 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Wichita State on January 15, 2026 at 9 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at Temple on January 18, 2026 at 12 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball versus Tulane on January 21, 2026 at 7 p.m.

Upcoming Event: Men's Basketball at South Florida on January 25, 2026 at 1 p.m.

Florida Atlantic University Athletics