EL PASO, TEXAS – The No. 24 Florida Atlantic men’s basketball team was put to the test this week, as it has been all season. The latest test for the 24th-ranked Owls was a three-game Conference USA road trip to be played over the course of six days, which also closed out a stretch of five games in 11 days. The Owls answered the bell, as they have all year, with a 3-0 road trip capped off by a 67-59 victory over UTEP on Saturday night in El Paso.
The victory continues FAU’s (19-1, 9-0 C-USA) remarkable winning streak, which now stretches to 18 games, the second-longest streak in the nation. The win also matches FAU’s total of 19 from last season and is a mere two wins away from tying the program’s single-season record. FAU is one of only four one-loss teams in the nation remaining (Houston, Purdue & Charleston being the others).
The Owls grinded out a victory over the Miners in a physical basketball game with some elite defense. FAU limited UTEP to just 30.8% shooting from the floor and 18.8% shooting from 3-point range. The Owls took a victory in a difficult place to play, as UTEP was 10-2 at home prior to tonight’s ballgame.
Johnell Davis led the way for FAU once again with 20 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting from the floor and 2-3 from 3-point range. He also added six rebounds. Davis has led FAU in scoring in five out of the last seven games, which have all been conference games, and is averaging a team-high 16.6 points per game in C-USA action.
POSTGAME QUOTES FROM COACH MAY
“I thought UTEP played really determined basketball tonight, they were focused, energetic and were flying around the floor, credit to Coach Golding and their team,” FAU head coach Dusty May said. “Our guys can walk into any environment and match the other team’s toughness, energy and determination. UTEP plays as hard as anyone in the league. For our guys to go on this road trip in this swing of five games in 11 days and three games in six days, with the tough travel that we have – we’re pretty far away from home – and come away with five wins is a testament to their determination and character more than anything else.
STATS & NOTES
- The Owls set the evening’s tone right away, holding UTEP without a point in the first 6:48 minutes of action to race out to a 12-0 lead
- FAU’s defense forced 15 UTEP turnovers
- Vladislav Goldin recorded 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor. The Owl center was a key presence down low with six rebounds and three blocked shots
- The Owls took a 37-24 lead into the locker room then kept the Miners at arm’s length down the stretch, not allowing UTEP within any less than eight points
- After UTEP shrank it to a 41-32 lead, FAU countered with a big pair of 3-pointers. Michael Forrest hit from deep off a Nick Boyd assist, then on the next Owl possession Forrest returned the favor to Boyd who knocked down a trifecta to push the lead right back to 13. A Forrest jumper extended it to 49-34 with 12:24 to play
FAU RETURNS HOME
The Owls will return from their 8-day road trip tomorrow and resume action for a two-game homestand. FAU will take on Middle Tennessee on Jan. 26 and WKU on Jan. 28.
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