What : Florida Atlantic (7-5, 1-0) vs ULM (3-8, 0-0) When : Sunday, Dec. 19th @ 7:00 PM EST Where : FantEwing Coliseum TV : CSS (Comcast 32 locally), ESPN3.com (subject to blackout) Live Video : None Internet Broadcast : Here Live Stats : Here ULM Team Site : Here Probable Starters : FAU G Ray Taylor 9.8 ppg G Alex Tucker 9.4 ppg G Greg Gantt 14.6 ppg F Kore White 8.9 ppg F Brett Royster 7.8 ppg ULM G Marcelis Hansberry 4.1 ppg G Hugh Mingo 12.9 ppg G Fred Brown 14.3 ppg F Steven McClellan 4.9 ppg F Lawrence Gilbert 10.5 ppg The series Florida Atlantic enjoys a 3-1 all-time mark against the Warhawks and are 1-0 at FantEwing Coliseum. Last time on the hardwood, cold weather prompted a halt in the action at FAU Arena before the Owls came away victorious 74-61 in their seventh win of the 2009-10 season. ULM commited 21 turnovers in the loss as FAU racked up 25 points off of them. FAU at a Glance Two games remain in the five game, four state, long haul as FAU next visits Louisiana. The Owls are making significant strides in results away from FAU Arena (3-4) in comparison to the two prior seasons under Mike Jarvis. Having won just five games on the trail during that span, the squad could pull to within one notch of that mark with a victory tomorrow. Last time out, FAU used a strong performance from Ray Taylor (24 points) to pick up their first win at Trojan Arena under Jarvis , and opened conference play at 1-0 for the first time since the 2006-07 slate. “The guys know they can…so, at the end of a game like tonight, it’s not like they are saying ‘oh man, we can’t win this’. We know we can win on the road, and road wins are huge in college basketball”, said Jarvis. Offensively, Greg Gantt (14.6 ppg) is the lone Owl in double figures, but Taylor (9.8 ) and Alex Tucker (9.4) are knocking on the door. Brett Royster is averaging a staggering 6.3 blocks per contest over the Owls’ last three games. FAU currently ranks second in the Sun Belt conference in defending the three ball (31.9%). ULM at a Glance The Warhawks managed just 19 first half points against UTEP en route to a 79-49 rout last Wednesday night. ULM, who sports just a 29.4% clip from beyond the arc (worst in the Sun Belt) hoisted up a 1-of-11 performance from downtown. ULM recently added the services of Kansas State transfer Fred Brown, who averaged 8.1 points, 1.6 rebounds in 34 games for the Wildcats. So far he has proven a welcomed addition with a team leading 14.3 ppg. Brown was also named the Sun Belt Newcomer of the Year by both The Sporting News and Rivals.com. Hugh Mingo, who was recently named the Sun Belt player of the week after a 27 point, seven rebound, and seven steal performance against Centenary, is the second key contributor in the primarily guard oriented Warhawk attack. Off the bench is forward Tommie Sykes (10.2 ppg) who is fifth in the NCAA with 44 offensive rebounds. There is some size to be reckoned within 6’10”, 245 lb center Fabio Ribeiro, who is seeing over 20 minutes per contest, but the big man has only shot the ball 31 times in 11 games. ULM ranks dead last in blocked shots (1.3) and 3 PT% (29.4%), and next to last in assists (10.4) amongst conference members. Latest Line : FAU -7 Owl’s Nest Prediction No need to analyze individual match-ups in this one for one main reason. FAU has solid control of a number of key statistical categories: FG% (+4.9%), 3PT% (+4.3), FTA (+102), points per game (+11.2), blocks (+39), and finally turnovers (-42). This all equates to one thing and one thing only, a win for the Owls. FAU -5
