HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Déjà vu, anyone?
After building a big lead and holding on to win with a couple big 3-pointers late on Friday night, it was the exact same script for Florida Atlantic University once again Saturday evening at Reed Green Coliseum. The Owls held on for a 73-66 Conference USA victory and a road sweep of Southern Miss.
The Owls built a 16-point lead five minutes into the second half. But Southern Miss, largely on a Herculean effort by Tae Hardy, came back. Unlike Friday night when FAU never relinquished the lead, Hardy and the Golden Eagles actually pulled in front briefly late in this one. Hardy scored 32 points Saturday and his final 3-pointer put Southern Miss on top by one, 61-60.
But just like Friday night, when FAU needed a big bucket, Bryan Greenlee was the first to step up. Greenlee answered Hardy’s triple with one of his own. From there, it was back and forth for a minute. Jaron Pierre put the Golden Eagles up with a triple of his own. But, again, just like Friday night, it was Jailyn Ingram who followed up a Greenlee 3-pointer with one of his own. The Ingram long-range bomb put FAU on top 66-64 with 1:42 remaining and the Owls wouldn’t relinquish the lead.
Michael Forrest added another FAU triple with 50 seconds remaining to effectively put the game on ice. From there, the Owls converted four-of-six opportunities at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to secure the victory.
Karlis Silins was dominant for a good portion of the contest, before getting into foul trouble. He scored 15 points to lead five Owls in double digits, including two 3-pointers and six rebounds. Greenlee added 13 points and a team-high four assists. Ingram scored 12 points, while Forrest tallied 11 and grabbed a team-best seven boards. Kenan Blackshear added 10 points.
The Owls led for most of the first half, taking a 10-point lead into the halftime locker room, 36-26.
Notes
– The Owls improved to 10-9 overall on the season and pulled back to .500 in C-USA action at 5-5. Southern Miss fell to 8-16 overall and 4-13 in league action.
– FAU led for over 30 minutes in the contest.
– FAU outscored Southern Miss 24-11 off the bench.
– Ingram reached double figures for the 11th time this season and the 62nd time in his FAU career.
– After going just 8-of-20 from the free-throw line Friday night, FAU was much better Saturday night, hitting 15-of-20.
– FAU has now swept two C-USA series this season, after taking two from FIU earlier in the year.
Quoting Coach May
FAU Head Coach Dusty May
On the victory: “I’m extremely proud of our last four minutes last night and tonight. There was a time out and the guys came out and had a different look in their eye, knew it was winning time and they made plays, made big plays, got big stops. We need to be more disciplined when we get a lead. We fouled them, put them at the line and that got them in a rhythm.”
On the late heroics: “We were gassed. We were pulling it out to hold it. The staff was saying ‘No, no no. Go, go, go before they get set.’ Luckily, B.J. came off, he looked comfortable and confident. I thought our veterans showed great leadership and great poise late.”
On Tap
The Owls will be back in action at home next week to wrap up the regular season. FAU hosts Middle Tennessee Thursday and Friday, with both games set to tip off at 6 p.m.
