| BOCA RATON (FAUSports.com) — The Florida Atlantic University men’s basketball team can add to the accolades of an already historic season at the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The Owls open CBI play vs. Northern Colorado Sunday at 2:30 p.m. at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. The Owls set a new program-best for wins in Conference USA with 11 in the 2021-22 season, besting 2018-19’s eight. The Owls have also clinched a fourth-consecutive winning season for FAU, a first in program history. A victory Sunday over Northern Colorado would be the program’s first-ever postseason tournament victory and would also secure just the third 20-win season in program history (and just the second as a D-I program). FAU has never faced off with Northern Colorado on the hardwood. The Bears were 20-15 overall and finished third in the Big Sky Conference regular season standings. UNC was one win away from the NCAA Tournament, falling 87-66 to Montana State in the Big Sky Conference Tournament championship game. FAU is 0-3 all-time in postseason tournament play, dropping games in the NCAA Tournament (2002), the NIT (2011) and the CIT (2019). This is the Owls’ first appearance in the CBI. Northern Colorado’s most recent appearance in a postseason tournament was the 2018 CIT, which the Bears went on to win. The FAU-UNC CBI tilt will be heard in the South Florida area on Fox Sports 640 AM and will be streamed on FloHoops. An FAU Win Would … Be FAU’s first-ever postseason tournament victory Clinch the program’s third 20-win season ever (and just the second in D-I) Extend the season into the CBI Quarterfinals Be WAY better than a loss History Made FAU has clinched its fourth consecutive winning season, a first in program history, making Dusty May the first Owls’ head coach ever to lead a team to four straight winning seasons as well. Back in 1992, Tim Loomis coached the Owls to three straight seasons with a winning percentage above .500 while the team was a member of NCAA Division II. Big Time Bench FAU’s bench has been a key factor this season. The Owls’ reserves have outscored the opponent bench 21 times this season and FAU is 15-6 in those contests. The Owls’ bench outscores the opposition by an average of 24.1-18.4 points per game. A-Mart Special After averaging 4.2 points in his first season, Alijah Martin is scoring 13.9 ppg this season to lead the team. He has reached 10+ points in 25 of 32 games this year. He tallied 10+ points just 4 times in 2020-21. He leads the team in 3-point percentage, shooting .400, which ranks No. 3 in C-USA and No. 35 in the nation. As a 6-foot 2-inch guard, Martin’s 5.3 rebounds per game leads the team. He’s also leading the team in steals with 1.6 per game. Martin was named All-Conference USA Third Team earlier this month, making him just the fourth Owl to be named to an All-CUSA first, second or third team. Seeing The Forrest for the Threes Michael Forrest, named All-CUSA Honorable Mention and Second Team All-District by the NABC earlier this month, is one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in Conference USA. He is currently No. 7 in the league and No. 94 in the nation in 3-pointers per game (2.52) and, No. 3 in CUSA in 3-pointers attempted (235). His .353 percentage from beyond the arc is No. 7 in C-USA and No. 85 in the nation. At 249 career 3-point field goals, he sits third all-time in FAU history. Forrest has hit at least one 3-pointer in 107 of 121 career games and has made at least one in 83 of 88 games over the past three seasons. Forrest scored a season-high 27 points, including 6 3-point field goals, against Marshall in the C-USA opener. Last Time Out – UAB 80, FAU 66 The Florida Atlantic University men’s basketball team saw its time at the Conference USA Championship tournament come to a close late Thursday night, dropping an 80-66 decision to UAB in the quarterfinals. The Blazers were red hot early and built a lead of as many as 20 in the first half. But the Owls kept battling and pulled within 12 at the intermission. The second half was more of the same. UAB (25-7) pushed the lead to as many as 22 seven minutes into the second half. But FAU (19-14) wouldn’t go away. The Owls used an 18-4 run over the next six minutes to pull within eight points, 71-63, with 6:39 remaining. Over the next three minutes, FAU had five opportunities to trim its deficit. But two turnovers and three missed field-goal attempts were the result of those possessions. UAB’s Michael Ertel then provided the knockout blow for the Blazers, hitting a 3-pointer with 3:50 remaining. The Owls never got within single digits again. “Things didn’t go well early and our guys could have easily folded,” FAU head coach Dusty May said. “They battled, chipped away and put ourselves in position to really make it interesting late. We were down eight and had a couple really good looks that just didn’t drop. If they fall, we continue with our momentum.” In the first half, it was reigning Conference USA Player of the Year Jordan Walker and UAB who had all the momentum. Walker hit three 3-pointers in the first three minutes of the contest. His hot shooting was contagious. The Blazers scorched the nets for 58 percent (18-of-31) from the field, including 63.6 percent shooting from behind the arc (7-of-11) in the opening 20 minutes. Walker scored a game-high 26 points in the contest. UAB running mate Quan Jackson added 20. Three Olws were in double digits, paced by Michael Forrest’s 16-point effort. Alijah Martin scored 11 and Everett Winchester added 10. Martin also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds and dished out a game-best four assists. |
