Botley overcomes injury to lead Owls in 68-50 win over Jacksonville

Owl+guard+Marquan+Botley+charges+towards+the+basket++past+EKU+guard+Ja%E2%80%99Mill+Powell.++Botley+scored+15+points+against+the+Colonels.+Photo+by+Max+Jackson%0A

Owl guard Marquan Botley charges towards the basket past EKU guard Ja’Mill Powell. Botley scored 15 points against the Colonels. Photo by Max Jackson

The Florida Atlantic Owls (7-4, 0-0 in Conference USA) won against the Jacksonville University Dolphins 68-50 thanks to excellent play from their backcourt.

Junior guard Solomon Poole provided scoring for the Owls with 14 points. He shot 3-of-5 from 3-point range and led all scorers with 19 points

FAU only managed to score 28 points and shot 37 percent from the field in the first half, but their offense gained traction as the game wore on.

They shot 41 percent from 3-point range and out rebounded the Dolphins 19 to 14 in the first half.

The Owls would play without one of their key players in the first period and part of the second period. Sophomore guard Marquan Botley exited the game early in the first half after an inadvertent elbow. He bled profusely from his nose and lip and received three stitches before he was able to return.

The injury served as a spark for him and the Owls. The diminutive guard returned in the nick of time Jacksonville  (5-11, 0-0 in the Atlantic Sun Conference) was on a run. Botley halted the Dolphins comeback.

He scored all of his 14 points in the second half and was the catalyst for the Owls as their lead ballooned. He also orchestrated the offense for the Owls, dishing out eight assists.

He and the Owls also stymied the Dolphins’ 3-point shooting, Jacksonville University was 0-of-3 from 3-point range.

The Owls will see if they can keep up their winning ways against rival Florida International University at home on Jan. 4.