The Florida Atlantic Owls waited a few days to avenge their home loss to their rival the FIU Panthers.
Mission accomplished.
The Owls took their talents to Ocean Bank Convocation Center, in front of the largest crowd to ever see a Panthers’ home basketball game, 4,710, and handed the Panthers an 89-72 loss.
When the shots fall, the Owls can be dangerous.
That was evident when Anthony Adger scored 26 points with 5-of-8 3-point shooting. Michael Forrest added 22 points, and Xavian Stapleton had 20 on 8-of-10 shooting for the Owls (12-9, 3-5 Conference USA).
FIU’s 17-point loss tonight against Florida Atlantic is its worst at home since dropping a 78-61 decision to South Carolina on Nov. 27, 2017.
“We had good energy going into the half,” Owls coach Dusty May stated. “In the second half we got some shots to go, and our zone improved as we made some shots.”
The Panthers (13-8, 4-4) led for most of the first half, but the Owls closed the stanza on a 6-0 run which included a buzzer-beating three by Anthony Adger to give FAU its first lead, 43-42, since leading 2-0 to start the game.
The Owls opened the second half with 10 more points to take a commanding lead in the second half, that record crowd began heading for the exits.
FAU shot 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from the field, including a 65.2 percent (15-for-23) clip in the second half, and 83.9 percent (26-for-31) from the charity stripe.
Panthers were outrebounded 45-32.
Devon Andrews had 21 points; Brian Beard Jr. added 16 and Isaiah Banks scored 10 for FIU. Osasumwen Osaghae pulled down 13 boards.
