A losing streak was a looming cloud on a rather perfect day in Paradise as FAU hosted North Texas (15-5, 7-1 AAC). The Mean Green came into the contest with a three game winning streak and a 600th program win looming. Nothing seemed to be in UNT’s way as they easily got by Florida Atlantic giving the Owls their sixth-straight loss.
First Half
The game opened with a 4-4 tie, but back-to-back threes put UNT ahead 10-4 early. The Owls closed in on North Texas as they trailed 12-10. Rolling with the punches, UNT put up a 12-0 run. Florida Atlantic went on a 4:45 minute scoring drought during the final five minutes as they trailed 24-11 at the end of the first.
The Owls held the Mean Green to an 0-5 performance early in the second quarter as FAU pulled within ten. Buckets started falling for North Texas in response, as they led 35-22 with 4:51 remaining in the half. After the media break, Florida Atlantic shot 0-5 as UNT took a 39-22 lead with 1:53 left in the half. Another near five minute scoring drought plagued the Owls as North Texas led 43-24 at the half.
Close to nothing went right for FAU in the first as they were outrebounded 25-15 and shot 3-of-14 from beyond the arc.
Second Half
The FAU offense found a spark in the third quarter as the Owls pulled within 13 in the first 5:09, 52-39. Florida Atlantic kept chipping away as a Ta’Ziah Jenks (pictured above) layup pulled the Owls within ten, 55-45 with 2:12 left in the third. A 9-0 run brought FAU within two possessions, forcing UNT to call a timeout. FAU closed out the third on an 11-1 run as they led 56-51 following a Mya Perry buzzer-beating layup.
UNT made the contest a double-digit game again as they used an 8-0 run taking a 64-51 lead forcing an Owls’ timeout in the fourth. Four minutes into the fourth, FAU managed just one point, falling behind 68-52. Florida Atlantic’s Jenks earned back-to-back baskets as the Owls capped off a 7-0 run as the Owls pulled within nine. The remainder of the contest saw FAU start fouling, grasping for any chance of a win. UNT kept their lead and won 73-61.
During the third, FAU outscored the Mean Green 27-13. While it was a great run for the Owls, UNT turned around and outscored Florida Atlantic 12-3 over the first five minutes of the fourth.
Final Stats
The Owls shot a 21.7 percent clip from beyond the arc and went 2-of-9 during the fourth. Jenks dropped 23 points while the only other double-digit scorer was Stefani Ingram with 12. As a team FAU earned 30 rebounds with Jenks and Jada Moore (pictured above) both earning five. Moore also led in assists with four as the Owls gained 10.
Look Ahead
FAU (9-12, 1-7 AAC) now shifts focus to Tulane (12-7, 4-3 AAC), which is coming off a thrilling win over Temple. The win gave the Mean Green another NET top 100 victory. Earlier this season the Green Wave took over the Elly as they beat the Owls 91-71. Florida Atlantic will look to end their six game losing streak as tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm on Wednesday, Jan. 29.
