FAU hosts UAB in fourth game of AAC Play What : #24 FAU (12-4, 2-1 AAC) vs UAB (10-5, 2-0 AAC) When : Sun. Jan. 14th, @ 12:00 PM EST Where : The Burrow – Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena Series : Blazers lead 13-5 all-time against the Owls. TV : ESPN+ Radio : FoxSports 640 Live Stats : Here Line : FAU -16 FAU at a Glance Offense – 82 PPG, 49% FG, 37% 3PT Defense – 71 PPGA, 43% FGA, 34% 3PTA Rebounding – 37 RPG Owls, 33 RPG Opponents Owl Notables What a way for FAU to get their first-ever win against Tulane, not to mention their first road win in AAC Play as well. Alijah Martin (pictured below via Bob Markey II) made sure the Owls weren’t going 0-3 on the road this season, scoring 11 of his 14 points in the second half including the game-winning free throw to seal the deal. As he navigates the ups and downs of what has been a shaky season for Martin, he can take relief that he still plays a vital role in being clutch when the Owls need him to be. Another player who can feel confident about returning to form is Nick Boyd, who knocked down six three-pointers for a new career high. He also became the fifth Owl to record 20 or more points in a game this season. Ball movement continues to have a major impact on the Owls offense, as the team dished out 21 assists against the Green Wave, the fifth time they have made 20 or more assists. They are 4-1 when they do so, with their only loss coming against 20th-ranked Illinois at the time. Davis, recently named to the Wooden Award Top 25 Watch List, had a career night. In addition to his 14 points, he nabbed six rebounds and dished out a career high eight assists. He became the first Owl to record that type of statline since the 2010-11 season. The eight assists were also the most by an Owl since January 8th, 2022. Goldin recorded his fifth double-double of the season with 19 points and 11 rebounds. His assertiveness inside the paint on a consistent basis will be crucial to the Owls dominating on offense moving forward. FAU will remain home as they will next host Wichita State on January 18th at 7:00 PM. The matchup will be broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2. UAB Team Site : Here UAB at a Glance Offense – 77 PPG, 44% FG, 31% 3PT Defense – 76 PPGA, 45% FGA, 35% 3PTA Rebounding – 39 RPG, 34 RPG Opponents Blazer Notables Going through a significant change to their roster during the summer, seeing star guard Jordan “Jelly” Walker depart for the NBA after helping finish as runner-ups in the National Invitational Tournament, UAB has been inconsistent to start the season. Even though they went 8-5 in non-conference play, the Blazers sustained losses to the likes of Bradley, McNeese State, and Georgia Southern, teams that they should have beaten as they were considered favorites for those games. They seemed to have turned a corner for the new year, winning six straight and starting 2-0 in conference play. One player the Owls have to watch out for is Yaxel Lendeborg. The six-foot-nine forward put together his third-straight double-double and he has scored at least 23 points and 15 rebounds in his last three games. FAU should look to heavily contest all of Eric Gaines’ shots, in particular. He is shooting 38.7% from the field and 23.4% from beyond the arc, leading the team in shot attempts as his inefficiency is an area that the Owls should exploit to their advantage. Keeping the Blazers away from the charity stripe would help the Owls defensively. UAB attempted a season-high 41 free throws against USF, indicating that their aggressiveness would be similar heading into Sunday afternoon. Following this matchup, the Blazers will return home to Alabama when they play host to Tulane on January 17th at 7:00 PM EST. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
