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FAU freshman guard Raymond Taylor scored 17 points and had 10 assists and seven rebounds as the Owls opened up their season routing Division II Florida Tech 86-63 at FAU Arena.

Taylor, a diminutive 5-foot-6, was playing in his first collegiate game, but he impressed from tipoff, demonstrating lightning speed, nifty dribbling and an eye for the final pass.

“Ray is really good,” said FAU Head Coach Mike Jarvis. “Ray could be on any team in the country, bar none, and he would start for most of them.”

Along with leading the Owls in scoring and rebounding, Taylor had five steals, the most of any player on the court.

“The team put me in great position to finish plays,” said Taylor of his double-double.

Four other FAU players also reached double figures. Greg Gantt and Shavar Richardson each had 14 points, Sanchez Hughley added 13 and Brett Royster finished with 10. Royster also blocked four shots.

In front of a crowd of 1,636, FAU displayed a high-octane offense, one that scored 20 points off fast break opportunities and 18 from 3-point range.

The Owls led the Panthers 51-25 at halftime and never ceased up. The Owls led by as much as 33 in the second period.

“Young kids need to know they are supposed to win, and I think this group really believes they are going to,” said Jarvis of his relatively young squad. “We will see.”

The Owls now enter a four-game road stretch, starting with Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 16.