Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Florida Atlantic University's first student-run news source.

UNIVERSITY PRESS

Men’s Basketball: Finally, A Win

In a season filled with injuries and losses, the Owls finally had a reason to keep their heads up after the final buzzer sounded. They finally had a conference victory.

The Owls (5-18, 1-10 Sun Belt Conference) snapped a 13-game losing streak and earned their first Sun Belt Conference victory of the season against the cold-shooting Ragin’ Cajuns (7-14, 4-6) by a final score of 63-47 on Jan. 31 at the FAU Arena.

Senior guard Paul Graham III led the Owls with 18 points on 4-12 shooting, while draining 9-10 free throws in a game where the Cajuns’ awful 3-point shooting made the difference. The Cajuns shot a minuscule 5.3 percent from behind the 3-point line, making only two of 38 attempts for the game. Cajuns guard Randell Daigle and forward Travis Bureau, who ranks 45th in the NCAA in 3-point makes per game, combined to shoot just 2-22 from behind the arc.
“They just didn’t make shots,” said FAU coach Mike Jarvis after the game. “They had some good looks but fortunately tonight they didn’t capitalize.”

The Owls jumped out to a 12-3 lead with 15:07 remaining in the first half and never looked back. The Owls led the Cajuns by as much as 19 with 10:05 on the clock in the second half.

The turning point in the game came with 12:01 remaining in the second half when forward Brett Royster’s powerful alley-oop jam from Graham ignited an 11-0 run in favor of the Owls.

After earning their first victory since Dec. 13, 2008, Jarvis downplayed the losing streak.
“I wasn’t concerned with a losing streak and I am not concerned with a winning streak. Every day we are going to come and play and work hard,” Jarvis said.

Sophomore forward Brett Royster scored 14 points to tie his career high in 28 minutes of action. Freshman guard Shavar Richardson also added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting, including 2-2 from the 3-point line.
“They continue to work and the young kids get a little better each game,” Jarvis said.

The Owls hope to turn their fortunes for the better when they hit the road on Thursday, Feb. 5, for a road game against the New Orleans Privateers.

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