| BOCA RATON — The Florida Atlantic University men’s basketball team returns to Conference USA action Thursday night. A league contest at rival Florida International University is slated for 7 p.m. at the Ocean Bank Convocation Center. Unlike all other C-USA games this season, the Owls and Panthers will play their two games in a home-and-home series on Thursday and Saturday, rather than a back-to-back series on Friday and Saturday at one location. The second contest of the series will be played Saturday at 4 p.m. at FAU Arena. Florida International leads the all-time series between the two teams 28-19. The Panthers hold a 16-8 edge in games played in Miami and a 12-11 edge in games at FAU Arena. FIU enters this weekend’s contests with an 8-4 overall record and a 2-2 mark in C-USA action. Meanwhile, the Owls are 5-6, 0-2. Saturday’s home contest vs. the Panthers is presented by Baptist Health Orthopedics & Sports Medicine. A very limited number of tickets for Saturday’s home game remains available. While student admission is free, the student section is also limited and students are encouraged to arrive early. Gates will open at 3 p.m. for the 4 p.m. tipoff. Buying Stock In Windex? Offensive rebounding has been a point of emphasis for the Owls throughout the 2020-21 season. The message has apparently been received. The Owls enter this weekend No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 22 in the nation in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 13.55 per contest. Those offensive rebounds have led to Good Hands People Taking care of the basketball has become a hallmark of the Owls under Dusty May. FAU ranked No. 2 in Conference USA in turnover margin last season at 1.81 fewer per game. They have started 2020-21 in similar fashion. FAU averages just 12.4 turnovers, which ranks No. 3 in CUSA and No. 80 in the nation. The Owls’ turnover margin is +3.5 per game this season, which ranks No. 4 in CUSA and No. 44 in the country. Jailyn Brings The Juice Jailyn Ingram is No. 8 in C-USA in scoring (16.0 ppg) and No. 15 in the league in rebounding (6.36 rpg). He is one of just 3 C-USA players in the top 15 of both categories. Ingram has scored in double digits in 8 of his last 9 outings. Included in those 8 games are 5 where he scored 20 or more. Last Friday’s 26-point effort at ODU matched his season-high and was two short of his career-best mark. Ingram has a pair of double-doubles this season, giving him 10 for his career. He is the most prolific current Owl in the category of double-doubles. Greenlee Got Going Again Bryan Greenlee did not score last Tuesday night at JMU, snapping a streak of five straight double-figure scoring outings. He found some mojo again Friday and Saturday at Old Dominion. The sophomore scored 13 and 14 points, respectively in the series with the Monarchs. He has reached double figures eight times this season. |
