The No. 10 Florida Atlantic University men’s basketball team (2-1) fell to Bryant (2-3) on Saturday evening. For the second game in a row, the Owls found a score right off the opening tip, this time on a layup by Johnell Davis just four seconds in. Davis scored seven early on to take a 10-2 lead just four minutes in. Davis (photo right by Christian Proscia) tallied his second career double-double, leading the team with 17 points and a career-high tying 12 rebounds. The rest of the half became a back-and-forth affair, with Florida Atlantic finding themselves in unfamiliar territory for this season: a deficit. The Owls never let them fall behind by more than two in the first period and with the game tied entering the final minute of the frame, Alijah Martin hit a clutch three-pointer to give his team a 29-26 lead. The Owls faced more adversity in the second half, trailing by as much as 12 with just over five minutes to go. While Florida Atlantic fought on every possession, holding the Bulldogs to almost six minutes without a field goal, the key shots did not fall. “Hats off to Bryant”, said Head Coach Dusty May. “They played determined, they played well, they made the plays they needed to make, and it’s a good basketball team that has faced a lot of adversity and they really came together as a group today. They were quick on the ball, great in transition, tough on the glass.” Giancarlo Rosado was the other Owl to reach double digit points with 11 for the night. Florida Atlantic will head to Disney World for the eight-team ESPN Events Invitational. The first game will be Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 23, against Butler. “We will not let this game define us”, Rosado said. “We are going to come to practice the next day and prepare for Butler.”
