Down 11 points in the second half, Florida Atlantic men’s basketball turned to its most reliable weapon: the free-throw line.
Guard Devin Vanterpool went a perfect 12-for-12 from the line on his way to 24 points, and the Owls fought back for an 81-76 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Sunday. The victory was sweet redemption for FAU after dropping the last two meetings by a combined five points, including a heartbreaking 80-78 buzzer-beater last season at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
The all-time series between these regional rivals is now tied at 5-5, dating to their first meeting in 2007.
It was guard Josiah Parker who slammed the door in the final minutes. His putback with 1:50 left put FAU ahead 72-70, and from there the Owls leaned on their free-throw shooting to salt away the win. Parker scored FAU’s last six points, adding crucial free throws after his tip-in gave his team the lead for good.
For much of the second half, though, this looked like FGCU’s game to lose. The Eagles stretched their lead to 56-45 with just over 13 minutes remaining as guard Rahmir Barno and forward J.R. Konieczny tore through the FAU defense. The duo combined for 38 points on an efficient 15-for-24 from the floor.
Then FAU started pecking away. Vanterpool’s jumper tied it at 62-62 with 7:39 left in the game, setting up a back-and-forth finish before Parker’s heroics triggered an 8-2 run to close it out.
Barno finished with a game-high 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting, knocking down all three for his attempts from beyond the arc. Konieczny chipped in 17 points and guard Jordan Ellerbee had 13 points for FGCU.
Despite committing 18 turnovers, FAU shot an eye-popping 84% (27-for-32) from the free-throw line. FAU guard Yohann Sissoko was among those delivering in crunch time as the Owls went 14-for-16 from the line over the final six minutes. FGCU, meanwhile, attempted just 14 free throws all game and got outscored 27-14 at the free-throw line.
The Eagles actually shot better from the field overall: 51% to FAU’s 43%, but couldn’t overcome that massive free-throw disparity.
FGCU carried a close one-point lead, 37-36, going into halftime after Konieczny’s late layup. The Eagles had battled back from an early 10-5 hole when FAU looked sharp offensively behind Isaiah Elohim’s penetration.
For FGCU coach Pat Chambers, it was a frustrating cycle: his team would build a big second-half lead only to watch it slip away. Last year, though, the Eagles pulled off one of their biggest wins in program history, knocking off a seventh-ranked FAU squad 72-68 in what remains FGCU’s signature victory over a ranked opponent.
FAU coach John Jakus got some payback for those recent losses and kept his team’s momentum going in what’s always a chippy in-state rivalry.
FAU returns home to Boca Raton to take on the St. Leo University Lions on Wednesday, Dec. 10; tipoff is set to 7 p.m.
Angelina Martell is the Sports Editor for the University Press. Email her at [email protected] or DM her on Instagram @angieemartell for more information on this and other stories.
