Owls Hoops Travel to Richmond, Face VCU


What: Florida Atlantic (6-4) vs. Virginia Commonwealth (6-4)

When: Wednesday, December 15th, @ 7:00 PM

Where: Siegel Center

Series: The Rams own a 3-0 advantage over the Owls, with all three wins coming in successive years between 2000-2002.


TV: ESPN+

Radio: FoxSports 640

Live Stats: Here


VCU Team Site: Here


VCU at a Glance

Offense - 60 PPG, 42% FG, 29% 3PT

Defense - 57.8 PPGA, 36% FGA, 24% 3PTA

Rebounding -  32.8 RPG Rams, 38.5 RPG Opponents


Rams Notables

Despite four losses already on the year, the Rams had two games in the Bahamas where they played ranked opponents down to the wire: 69-61 to current No. 1 Baylor, and a 73-60 overtime loss to No. 20 UConn.

Since then, VCU have won three straight, including a 75-66 defeat over Old Dominion on the road. That win saw the Rams shoot 52% from the field in the second half.

VCU leads the nation 3-point defense, and are eighth nationally in field goal percentage defense (36.5%). Furthermore, the Rams rank 14th in scoring defense (57.8 ppg), 15th in blocks per game (6.0) and 20th in turnovers forced (17.9 per game).

Offensively, the Rams are led by guard Adrian Baldwin Jr, whose 12 PPG comes in just two games under his belt. Vince Williams and Jayden Nunn are also averaging in the double digits with 11.1 and 10.1 PPG, respecitvely.


FAU at a Glance

Offense - 79.5 PPG, 47% FG, 36% 3PT

Defense - 69.8 PPGA, 45% FGA, 39% 3PTA

Rebounding - 38.5 RPG Owls, 31.1 RPG Opponents


Owl Notables

Owls hit the road for the first time in over a month, which saw FAU complete their home-stand with a 6-3 record. FAU's lone road game was a squeaker to New Mexico in the season opener.

The finale game of the home-stand saw an 84-63 thumping over Palm Beach Atlantic. Guard Michael Forrest lead the Owls in scoring, for the fifth time this campaign, scoring 21 points in the victory.

Forrest's 16.2 PPG paces the team and slots the local product seventh in the conference. Meanwhile, his 28 total 3FG's puts him atop C-USA and 25th nationally. This helps the Owls' second place standing in the conference for three-point shooting.

Guards Alijah Martin and B.J Greenlee also average double digits in scoring with 12.4 and 10.6 PPG, respectively.

Transfer Vladislav Goldin (below) leads the program in rebounds with 6.0 RPG. The 7-1 center paces all European players in Division 1 with 18% offensive rebound. That is good for ninth overall.




Latest Line: FAU +10


Additional Links:

2021-2022 FAU Basketball Schedule - FAU Owl's Nest

GALLERY: FAU Arena Concepts from 2021 Men's and Women's Basketball

Owls open at +11 and that quickly shifts to +10.

Worth noting this would be a substantial upset in any event.

Starting Five:

Getting ready for GO TIME in Richmond! 🦉🏀#FAU's Starting Five vs. #VCU ⬇️

G - BJ Greenlee
G - Mike Forrest
G - Alijah Martin
G - Bitumba Baruti
F - Vladislav Goldin#GoOwls! 👌

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 15, 2021

Not a good start tonight. That VCU defense is no joke!

Not the best start for the Owls in hostile territory. #FAU trails #VCU 14-6 halfway through the first half. Baruti, Martin, and Rosado are the Owls' lone scorers.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 16, 2021

Been high on Martin since he committed last year. He is really growing into something special.

HALFTIME | #VCU 26 - 20 #FAU

Owls are clawing their way back following the slow start. @Martin_alijah makes this three look easy to bring the Owls within two possessions. He's the only Owl with more than three points after this 3FG and converting on a trio of FTs. pic.twitter.com/dmmJ65kBGT

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 16, 2021

Got the road rust off, now it's time to buckle down and score like we are capable of.

They are beatable, but it will take a solid game from here out.

Oh, wow! What a layup from Greenlee to draw FAU's deficit to one.

#FAU's deficit was cut to one thanks to a three from @martin_alijah and this smooth layup from @bgreenlee21! 👏👏👏

But going 7-7 from FGs since then has allowed #VCU to extend their lead back to multiple possessions.

Owls trail the Rams 46-34 with 11:28 remaining. pic.twitter.com/EUUbQLvivc

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 16, 2021

Welp, so much for that...

Some really questionable foul calls doomed FAU's comeback effort, including a pair of techs. Refs called 15 fouls on the Owls in the second half alone. That's some home cookin'!

FINAL | #VCU 66 - 46 #FAU

Foul trouble, many of which were questionable at best, doomed the Owls late in Richmond. Nonetheless, 35% FG isn't going to get it done, especially on the road.@Martin_alijah: tied a Game-High 13 PTS, GH 3 3FGs

NEXT: vs. #FloridaTech, Fri. 7PM.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) December 16, 2021

UPDATED SCHEDULE: HERE

Rick said

Got the road rust off, now it's time to buckle down and score like we are capable of.

They are beatable, but it will take a solid game from here out.

Posted On: Dec 15th 2021, 8:12 PM #405959

It was there. We knew that VCU's defense is one of the nation's best. But didn't expect the trio of Martin, Forrest, and Greenlee all get shutdown the way they did.