Winning tends to make everything better, especially for the Florida Atlantic men’s basketball team who has not seen many victories this season.

After an 18-point victory over the Florida International University Panthers last Thursday, the Owls (6-13, 2-6 Conference USA) can think about redirecting their season.

With less than ten games remaining in the season they still have a chance of ending at the .500 mark. However, the only way that record can be achieved is if FAU can continue to win, and it starts again with the Charlotte 49ers (10-10, 4-5 Conference USA) on Thursday.

The 49ers have been very good at home this season, posting an 8-3 record at Halton Arena thus far.

In order for the Owls to leave with a win, they must continue to deliver on the defensive side of the ball. The 49ers are averaging 78.3 points per game on 44 percent shooting, while shooting just under 40 percent from the three-point line.

This team can downright score and will not shy away from shooting the deep ball as it is making 7.9 three-point shots per game.

Senior Adonis Filer and junior Gerdarius Troutman will be depended on heavily in this game. The two guards both scored 18 points in the victory over FIU, which will also be needed against a 49ers team that has no problem scoring the ball.

Unlike the Owls, the 49ers have four out of their five starters averaging double digits in scoring. Sophomore Jon Davis of Charlotte is averaging 19.6 points a game, shooting 50 percent from the field and 42 percent from three-point range.

Davis must be contained in order for FAU to win its third away game of the season.

Fortunately for FAU, the 49ers are coming off a 17-point loss to Rice, and their last two games at home have been losses to Marshall University and Louisiana Tech University. The last time these two teams met, the Owls held on to win 82-77 on Jan. 30, 2016.

Old Dominion (13-8, 6-3 Conference USA) will enter the game with the best scoring and field goal defense in Conference USA, limiting teams to just 61.1 points on 40 percent shooting.

The Monarchs are the second worst scoring team in the conference, averaging just 63.5 points per game. Old Dominion is balanced, with three players averaging at least 10 points, led by sophomore Ahmad Caver’s 13 points per game.

Old Dominion is one of the better rebounding teams, averaging a conference best 14.4 offensive rebounds per game and 25.6 total rebounds per game.

The Owls will have to exploit one of the Monarchs weaknesses on defense, which is defending the three. Opponents have made 34.8 percent of its three’s against Old Dominion.

FAU shoots 33 percent from three, ranked eighth in the conference, at a rate of 6.9 per game.

FAU will travel to Charlotte to play the 49ers on Thursday Feb. 2, at 7 p.m., then they will face Old Dominion on Saturday, Feb. 4 at 7 p.m.

Jordon Edwards is a contributing writer with the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @koolkidklassic.

Hans Belot Jr. is the sports editor of the University Press. For information regarding this or other stories, email [email protected] or tweet him at @Don_Phenom_.