It’s another game-day in Eleanor R Baldwin arena as FAU hosts North Texas and the Owls will be looking to snap their 2 game losing streak and avenge their early season loss to North Texas. The Owls will need to find a way to right some of the wrongs that hurt them in their 2 game losing streak and also hurt them in their loss to UNT, as rebounding and assists were both lacking and if its that way again North Texas will look to capitalize.
Stay tuned below for live updates as the game progresses:
1H First 4-
Things started in a true typical UNT/FAU fashion, as within the first 4 minutes the two squads combined for just 11 points. FAU found themselves ahead 7-4 with 16:11 to play, as they forced 3 UNT turnovers, had 3 different Owls in the score column and grabbed 2 offensive boards, leading to an early advantage heading into the U16 timeout. Tre Carroll, Leland Walker and Baba Miller each scoring within the first 4 minutes is a positive sign for an FAU offense that needs everyone playing with confidence against the UNT defense.
1H U12 timeout-
A back and forth battle ensued out of the U16 timeout, as neither side lacked offense and aggression early on, with Kaleb Glenn and Atin Wright trading triples, while Kyky Tandy and Brenen Lorient each had finishes at the rim. Heading into the U12 timeout, UNT was holding a 16-14 lead with 11:50 to play, forcing a pair of FAU turnovers while also getting 5 points off the bench from Brenen Lorient.
1H U8 timeout-
UNT began to take control early on in this one, as FAU struggled to score while the Mean Green got 7 out of 9 points in a row from Brenen Lorient and heading into the U8 timeout with 7:39 to play UNT was holding a 22-14 lead, holding FAU to under 35% from the field for the first 12 minutes and holding them without a bucket since KyKy Tandy’s layup with 13:02 to play. The Owls offense was struggling, while UNT’s was flourishing and early on it created a bit of a gap between the two teams, meaning FAU has to find a way to spark their offense while slowing down UNT’s.
1H U4 timeout-
The Owls snapped their cold streak out of the U8 timeout, getting a second chance bucket from Baba Miller down low and although UNT’s offense was chugging along early, FAU got 3 triples in a row from Leland Walker, knocking the lead down from 31-21 UNT with 4:41 to play down to only 34-30 UNT heading into the U4 timeout with 2:12 to play.
Final 4-
UNT got another triple from Latrell Jossell right out of the U4, however the Owls got back to back buckets from Baba Miller and Tre Carroll to bring it with one possession, 37-34 at the half.
Halftime:
Although this matchup is usually known for its defense, the first half featured a solid shooting performance from both sides, as UNT was over 65% from the field and 45% from 3, while FAU was 51% from the field and 54% from 3. Both sides were fairly even across the board with Leland Walker leading FAU with 11, while Atin Wright and Brenen Lorient each had 9 for UNT, and the second half could comedown to which side is able to adjust better in the second half.
2H first 4-
The back and forth battle waged on into the second half, however North Texas grabbed 4 offensive rebounds which they turned into 5 points and although the Owls were shooting 50% from the field to start the second half, UNT was maintaining a 44-39 lead heading into the U16 timeout with 15:08 to play.
U12 2H timeout-
Things began to get away from FAU out of the U16 timeout, as UNT went on a 10-2 run shutting FAU out for nearly 3 minutes, getting high flying dunks and back to back triples from Latrell Jossell and heading into the U12 timeout with 11:47 to play UNT was holding a 54-44 lead over the Owls.
U8 2H timeout-
The Mean Green went on a 7-2 run over the next few minutes, getting 4 down low from Grant Newell and heading into the U8 timeout with 7:39 to play the Owls were trailing 61-46. FAU was 0/4 from 3 with 5 turnovers in the second half, while UNT was shooting 50% from then field with 8 assists on 9 makes and the two teams were stark contrasts in the second half, as UNT was flourishing and FAU was collapsing.
U4 2H timeout-
Things did not get much better for FAU over the next few minutes, as the Owls went without a field goal for over 9 minutes, while UNT continued to score at will and although the Owls made 6 free throws in between the U8 and U12, UNT was still holding a comfortable 67-52 lead heading into the U4 timeout with 3:26 to play.
Final 4-
FAU began to cut into the deficit, getting 4 in a row out of the U4 timeout to make it 67-56 with 1:20 to play which forced UNT into a timeout as things got a bit too close for FAU’s liking.