FAU Men's Basketball hosts Senior Night against UNT

What: FAU (11-16, 5-10) vs. North Texas (14-14, 7-8)

When: Saturday, February 24th, @ 7:00 PM Eastern

Where: FAU Arena

Series: North Texas has dominated this series, 12-3.


TV: None

Live Video: CUSA.tv *FEE

Radio: ESPN 106.3



North Texas Team Site: Here

North Texas at a Glance:

Offense - 74.0 PPG, 45% FG, 35% 3PT

Defense - 72.0 PPGA, 44% FGA, 33% 3PTA

Rebounding - 37.5 PG Mean Green, 33.9 PG Opponents


Notables

One year removed from a last place finish in C-USA, the North Texas Mean Green have enjoyed moderate success in their 2017-2018 campaign. Currently sitting pretty at seventh place in C-USA, UNT has their ticket punched to the conference tournament. Currently, a four game skid has hurt the seeding outlooks for the Mean Green. But those loses should come with an asterisk, as all four have been by single digits, including an OT thriller to Western Kentucky.

The Mean Green can attribute their turnaround season to C-USA's fourth best scorer, Guard Roosevelt Smart. Originally a high three-star SG, Smart was the #8 player from Illinois in 2015, according to 247. Since arriving in Denton from the JuCO ranks, Smart has averaged 19.2 PPG and 39% 3FG.



FAU at a Glance

Offense - 68.6 PPG, 41% FG, 33% 3PT

Defense - 69.2 PPGA, 43% FGA, 35% 3PTA

Rebounding - 38.4 Owls, 36.8 Opponents


Notables

It is Senior Night at The Burrow. Ronald Delph, Gerdarius Troutman, Justin Massey, William Pfister, and Payton Hulsey will all bid faraway to the FAU faithful. As a collective, this is one of the most talented classes in the history of FAU Men's Basketball. The Owls will need them all to play at their best level in order to fight off a scrappy UNT side. FAU will be bound for the C-USA Tournament with a win and a Rice loss.

Latest Line

FAU -1

Delph, Massey, Pfister, and and Hulsey start in their final game at The Burrow. Troutman will come in off the bench again, rounding out the graduating class.

#FAU's starting five vs. #UNT:

PG - Payton Hulsey

SG - Justin Massey

SF - Jailyn Ingram

PF - William Pfister

C - Ronald Delph

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

Owls race to a quick 6-0 lead, forcing the Mean Green to an early timeout. FAU is moving the ball quickly up the court on a couple of fast break opportunities.

Now that's how you start a basketball game!

62 seconds in, and #FAU leads 6-0. This forces #UNT to take an early timeout, to go over their game-plan and to possibly think about their lives.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

UNT star Roosevelt Smart heads to the bench after committing a pair of early fouls.

#UNT star Roosevelt Smart has committed two fouls early in the first half. This is great news for #FAU; the longer he is on the bench for foul trouble, the easier it will be for the Owls to hold onto this lead.

FAU 12-4, 14:00 1H.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

I take full responsibility for jinxing the team tonight. UNT easily ties the game, even with Smart riding the bench.

Time to eat my own words. Apparently, it wasn't easy at all for #FAU to hold on to that sizeable lead, no matter if #UNT's Smart is on the court or not (HINT: it didn't matter). A 5:19 long FAU scoring drought has allowed the Mean Green to tie the game.

FAU 12 - UNT 12, 10:30 1H

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

It's gone from bad to worse for the Owls. North Texas takes the lead, as FAU goes ICE COLD, which is followed by Jailyn Ingram leaving the court with an injury.

Jailyn Ingram appears to have injured his face/head on a UNT offensive foul. Remember, he wears a protective mask after breaking his nose in December.

UNT 26 - FAU 22, 5:29 1H

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

Owls go into the half with the lead. That was quite the final 3.5 minutes to end the half. FAU couldn't miss, while UNT struggled with turnovers and poor shot selection.

HALFTIME: FAU 34 - UNT 26

FAU catches FIRE in the final 3 minutes of the half!

12-0 #FAU run + #UNT making 1-9 FG = OWLS LEAD

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

Very strange half when it comes to the stat sheet.

FAU is shooting 48% FG, but with 10 more attempts than UNT.

Both sides are struggling to hold onto the ball, with UNT committing 11 TO's to FAU's 9.

Owls are also giving up too many offensive rebounds, UNT has 11 to FAU's 2.

Finally, Justin Massey is on pace for a career day on his Senior Night.

Very strange set of stats as #FAU & #UNT go into the half.

Owls are shooting 48%, but have 10 less attempts that the Mean Green.

UNT has dominated the offensive glass with ease with 11 OffReb vs. 12 FAU DefReb.

Senior Justin Massey is GOING OFF, with a game high 17 PTS. pic.twitter.com/p4nRhKK4HB

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

JUST IN: FAU to rename the Men's Basketball team from the "Owls" to the "Justin Masseys"

We are a Justin Massey blog now! (cc @The_DailyDragon)

The Senior Guard from Cooper City is putting on a show for his last game at The Burrow. He's responsible for 24 points, good for 49% of FAU's point total.

FAU 49 - UNT 39, 14:00 2H

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018

It is ALL FAU right now. Owls can put this away by extending this run to 20.

#FAU has used a dominant 16-4 run to take a commanding 58-43 lead agasint #UNT. With 11:13 remaining, let's hope that the Owls add some insurance.

— FAU Owl's Nest (@FAU_Owls_Nest) February 25, 2018