BOCA RATON — The FAU men’s basketball team will hit the road for an in-state matchup Tuesday night. The Owls will be in Deland, Fla. for a contest with the Stetson Hatters. It’s the second road game against an in-state foe this season and the second road contest against an Atlantic Sun Conference opponent, after FAU defeated North Florida 79-77 last Monday in Jacksonville.
FAU is now 4-2 after a 121-49 home win over Florida Memorial Saturday afternoon. Six Owls scored in double figures vs. the Lions, paced by 15 points off the bench from Michael Forrest, who was 3-of-3 from the 3-point line. Bryan Greenlee (14), Giancarlo Rosado (13), Jailyn Ingram (12), Kenan Blackshear (12) and Alijah Martin (11) were the other double-figure scorers.
Stetson saw its last scheduled contest postponed due to Covid-19 issues with its opponent (Florida College). The Hatters are currently 0-4 but have faced a challenging schedule, that includes road games at Miami, Florida and USF.
UPWARD TRAJECTORY
FAU is coming off back-to-back winning seasons, the first time the Owls have accomplished that feat since 2007 (under Matt Doherty and Rex Walters). Dusty May is the first FAU head coach to lead a team to the front and back end of consecutive winning seasons since 1992, when Tim Loomis coached the Owls to three straight seasons with a winning percentage above .500. More wins than losses in 2020-21 would make May just the second (along with Loomis) to lead FAU to three straight winning seasons. Both would have done it in their first three seasons, as well.
FROM WAY DOWNTOWN
FAU ranks No. 2 in Conference USA and No. 7 in the nation in 3-point field goals per game, averaging 11.7 per game. The Owls are efficient from behind the arc, as well. FAU is No. 1 in C-USA and No. 16 nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (42.2%).
CLEANING THE GLASS
Offensive rebounding has been a point of emphasis for the FAU coaching staff and the squad early in the 2020-21 season. The message has apparently been received. The Owls rank No. 1 in Conference USA and No. 13 in the nation in offensive rebounds per game, averaging 15.0 per contest.
Those offensive rebounds have led to the Owls to an edge in second-chance points in five of six games this season.
DOUBLE YOUR FUN, J.I.
Jailyn Ingram has scored in double digits in each of his last four outings. He added 10 rebounds last Monday at North Florida to record his first double-double of the season and the ninth of his career. He is the most prolific current Owl in the category of double-doubles (see chart to the right).
Ingram has also joined an exclusive FAU club. In the season-opener, he became just the fourth Owl ever to score 1000 points and grab 500 rebounds. See the chart on Page 4 for more details.
GREENLEE FOR THREE
Bryan Greenlee made 7 3-pointers in his Owl debut and has since added 9 more. He is currently the top 3-point shooter in Conference USA by percentage. Greenlee’s .615 clip from long range ranks No. 1 in C-USA and No. 12 in the nation.
Greenlee’s average of 2.7 3-pointers made per game is No. 6 in C-USA. He is No. 12 in C-USA in 3-point field goal attempts (26), and No. 2 in 3-point field goals made (16).
ON TAP: GOING TO GAINESVILLE
The Owls will head back out on the road Saturday. FAU will face off with the University of Florida for a Noon contest at the O’Connell Center in Gainesville. The Gators are 3-1 on the season with victories over Army, Boston College and Stetson. Florida’s only loss was in its last outing, falling 83-71 to Florida State in Tallahassee.
This will be just the fourth overall meeting between the Owls and Gators and the first since 2010. Florida holds a 3-0 advantage in the all-time series.
It will be a special contest for FAU head coach Dusty May. Not only did May spend seven seasons coaching under Gators’ head coach Mike White, but he will have an opportunity to coach against his son’s team Saturday. May’s son Jack is a 6-foot, 4-inch freshman guard on the Gators’ squad. The younger May saw action in the Gators’ contest vs. Stetson earlier this year.
