11/16/2024 | Men’s Basketball | Box Score
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Florida Atlantic men’s basketball team concluded their appearance in the 2024 Field of 68 Tip-Off with another overtime outing, this time picking up the victory over Liberty, 77-74.
In a complete tale of two halves, the Owls (3-2) followed up a high-scoring first period with reliance on timely shots and defensive stands in the second to take down the previously undefeated Flames (3-1) in an extra five minutes.
FIRST HALF
For the fourth game in a row, Florida Atlantic scored on their opening offensive possession, this time with a slam dunk from freshman center Matas Vokietaitis. The Owls leaned on their big men early, with Vokietaitis scoring 10 in the first half and junior forward Baba Miller adding five.
The Flames built a 12-point lead early on, but soon the Owls found their shooting stroke, going on a 14-4 run. The half concluded with a buzzer beater for the second consecutive game; It was junior guard Leland Walker who found the score with a deep three to end the period trailing 49-46.
SECOND HALF
The second half turned into a defensive battle, with the Owls at one point holding Liberty without a field goal for over 10 minutes.
Sophomore forward Kaleb Glenn hit a step back three-pointer at the shot clock buzzer to tie the game at 58 with six minutes remaining. No scores were found for three more minutes, when a crafty spin move by Walker gave the Owls their first lead of the half. Liberty responded with two buckets up their own to go ahead.
Offense was then revitalized for both teams, each trading buckets and a lead in the final minute. Vokietaitis went 1-for-2 from the line to equal the score at 67 as Liberty missed a shot on the other end as time expired.
OVERTIME
The Owls leaned on three players to carry the load on offense in the extra period: Glenn, Walker, and redshirt sophomore guard Niccolo Moretti. It was Glenn who gave FAU the lead they did not look back from with a minute remaining. Moretti put the game on ice, sinking two free throws to go up by three as the Flames could barely get a shot off on their final two possessions.
PRESS CONFERENCE
STATS & NOTES
- As a team, the Owls reached the 50% shooting mark for the third time this season, going 30-for-59 (50.8%)
- The defense held the Flames to 34.5% shooting from the field in the second half and a combined 2-for-16 from beyond the arc in the second and overtime periods
- Vokietaitis set a career-high to lead the team in scoring with 17 on 7-for-9 shooting
- Walker scored 16 points going 7-for-11
- 34 of the Owls’ points came off the bench, led by Glenn and Moretti scoring 12 each
- Four players nabbed at least five rebounds. Miller and Vokietaitis had six while Glenn and redshirt senior guard Ken Evans Jr. each recorded five
UP NEXT
The Owls remain in Charleston to take part in the 2024 Shriners Children’s Charleston Classic, hosted by ESPN. Competing in an eight-team field, Florida Atlantic’s first opponent will be Oklahoma State (3-0) on Thursday, Nov. 21, at 2:30 p.m. Games will follow on Nov. 22 and Nov. 24.
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 2024-25 season is sponsored by Phil Smith Kia/Phil Smith Acura.
