Greg Gantt’s performance on Thursday was one for the Owls’ record books.
In FAU’s 61-54 victory over Troy, the senior guard finished with 26 points, eclipsing Earnest Crumbley as the Owls’ all-time leading scorer.
Gantt’s 26 points (14 of the Owls’ 32 points in the first half) led the team in the conference road win. His 22.1 points per game (6th in the nation) leads the Owls this season. Additionally, Gantt’s 287 total points are second in the country, only behind Virginia Tech guard Erick Green’s 305.
“I wasn’t really thinking about the record. I knew it was going to come eventually. I just wanted to concentrate on the game,” Gantt told Owl Access. “I knew if I thought about it, I would try to force it too much.”
Gantt entered the night needing only four points to best the mark (1,559 points), which had stood since 2004. Less than five minutes into the game, Gantt hit a bank shot, cementing his name into school lore.
“Great team win tonight and congrats to the new all-time leading scorer Greg Gantt,” Owls head coach Mike Jarvis said on Twitter after the game. “He is playing at a high, high level. #FAUPRIDE #FAU.”
The record was special to Gantt for reasons beyond the hardwood. Afterward, he said his effort was in memory of his uncle, James Gantt, who passed away last year.
“He always watched me play basketball and wanted me to be the best I could be,” Gantt said to Owl Access. “I dedicated this game to him.”
FAU plays at ULM on Sat. Dec. 29 at 5 p.m.
