FAU is back at home taking on Wichita State in a battle of teams riding multiple game win-streaks. It is Seinfeld night in Boca Raton and the Owls will be looking to get their 6th win in a row against a very talented Shockers team.
Stay tuned below for live updates as the game progresses.
1H first 4-
Wichita State started out the game on a 6-0 run, getting all 3 of their buckets in the paint and although FAU snapped the streak with a triple from Tre Carroll, the Owls started 1 of their first 6, while Wichita State started 5 of their first 8 and John Jakus was forced into a timeout with FAU trailing 10-3 with 16:19 to play.
1H U12 timeout-
The Owls got a much needed spark from their bench out of the timeout, as Nico Moretti scored 5 in a row and Kaleb Glenn added one more bucket to even us at 12 with 13:26 to play. Wichita State responded with a 5-0 run of their own, however Evans Jr responded with a triple and heading into the U12 timeout with 11:20 to play Wichita State was holding a 17-15 lead. After their hot start, the Shockers cooled off, however they maintained a lead thanks to 7 early second chance points.
1H U8 timeout-
FAU grabbed a brief lead out of the U12 timeout, as Kaleb Glenn scored 3 in a row to give the Owls an 18-17 lead with 10:03 to play, however Wichita State responded with a 6-0 run of their own, shutting FAU out for the next 2:37 following the Glenn 3 in a row stretch and heading into the U8 timeout, Wichita State was holding a 23-18 lead with 7:26 to play.
1H U4 timeout-
Wichita State began to create a sizable advantage out of the U8 timeout, as FAU’s offense remained quiet. The Owls scoring drought reached well over 4 minutes and Wichita State took their largest lead of the half, 27-18 with 5:30 to play. The Owls scoring drought ballooned to well over 5 minutes and Wichita State grabbed their new biggest lead, 32-18 with 3:57 to play. The Owls were able to respond with a 7-2 run, getting a huge triple from Ken Evans Jr to cut it back to single digits, 34-25 heading into the U4 with 1:50 to play.
1H Final 4-
Not much changed over the final few minutes, as the Owls outscored Wichita 3-2 and the Shockers took a 36-28 lead into the break. Wichita State was leading rebounds 22-16 and points in the paint 20-12 and it led to an Owls deficit heading into the break.
2H first 4-
A back and forth battle ensued out of the break, as Kyky Tandy hit a triple right away before the Shockers got back to back buckets from Bijan Cortes to extend their lead to 40-31 with 18:45 to play. The Owls responded however, going on a 9-2 run and heading into the U16 timeout, the deficit was down to 45-40 with 14:38 to play.
2H U12 timeout-
The Owls came out of the U16 timeout rolling, going on an 8-2 run behind physical takes to the rim from Kaleb Glenn and Glenn’s last bucket gave FAU a 48-47 lead with 12:23 to play. Wichita State responded, scoring 4 in a row to take a 51-48 lead with 10:56 to play heading into the U12 timeout.
2H U8 timeout-
Both sides traded 2 buckets a piece in between the U12 and U8 timeouts, with FAU going on a 4-0 run to head into the U8 timeout trailing only by 3, 55-52 with 7:57 to play.
2H U4 timeout-
FAU came out of the U8 timeout and got a triple from Leland Walker to even the game at 55 all with 7:29 to play, however Wichita State responded with one from Bijan Cortes to regain the lead and the Shockers didn’t let the Owls tie it up from there. The triple from Cortes was a part of an 8-2 run overall and the Shockers grabbed a 63-57 lead with 4:54 to play and heading into the U4 timeout they held a 65-60 advantage with 2:40 to play.
Final 4-
The Owls struggled with miss free throws over the final few minutes, as both Leland Walker split free throws which could have made it a one point game, while Wichita State got a 3 from Corey Washington and a bucket from Xavier Bell sealed the deal, giving them a 70-65 lead with 34 seconds to play and ultimately going on to win 72-65.