FAU Basketball loses to FIU for second time this season, 64-56
Owl’s guard Justin Massey (4) drives around Herd guard Justin Edmonds. Massey scored a team-leading 16 points in a loss to FIU on Feb. 3. Photo by Max Jackson
February 3, 2015
The Florida Atlantic Owls (8-11, 1-7 Conference USA) couldn’t build much momentum against the Florida International Golden Panthers, losing 64-56.
Ball security was not strong for FAU in the first half, as they faced pressure from a stingy FIU defense that forced them into eight turnovers in the first period. They finished the game with 13 turnovers.
FAU’s shooters also struggled. Junior guard Solomon Poole shot 0-of-7 from the field in the first half, and freshman guard Justin Massey shot just 1-of 6 from the field.
Poole finished 4-of-19, and Massey ended the game 6-of-16, with 16 points as the team’s leading scorer. Senior guard (and former FAU Owl) Dennis Mavin led the scoring for FIU with 18 points.
FAU shot 31.8 percent from the field and 21.7 percent from the 3-point line, while the Panthers (11-10, 4-4 in Conference USA) shot 48 percent from the field and 41 percent from the 3-point line. FIU led the entire game.
Senior center Justin Raffington was back for his second game after recovering from his foot injury. He had 14 points and 10 rebounds in 31 minutes, good for a double-double.
FAU never got closer than an eight point deficit with 30 seconds left. The loss is FAU’s third in a row, and they now are 1 and 7 in their last eight games.
With this win, FIU sweeps the season series, the Owls lost the previous matchup on Jan. 4, 62-60. The Owls will next play the UTEP Miners on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. at home.
