FAU Secures Thrilling Victory 66-63 versus North Texas on Johnell Davis Game-Winner
The Owls won a tight battle against North Texas 66-63 in the last seconds at home.
Photo by: Gasner Delvarin Jr. | The FAU men’s basketball junior guard Johnell Davis (white jersey #1).
Gasner Delvarin Jr, Writer
January 29, 2024
BOCA RATON, Fla. – AP No.20, Florida Atlantic University Owls (17-4, AAC 7-1) won a breathtaking match against the North Texas 66-63 to win six in a row behind the junior Johnell Davis's go-head 3-pointer with 0.4 seconds before the final horn on Sunday afternoon at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena.
"I like having the ball in his hands late in the game," said FAU's head coach Dusty May on the level of trust for Davis. “When you've got a potential player of the year on your team, you've got to trust him,” May added.
Davis' remarkable 3-point shot, executed with just 0.4 seconds remaining on the clock, earned the high expectations May has in him. He finished with a game high performance, notching 28 points on six made triples for the day.
We're very comfortable," said Davis on tight late games decided by fewer points than five. “We know what we need to do at the end of the day.”
Vladislav Goldin added 13 points and eight rebounds for the Owls despite being in foul trouble in the first half. The rest of the team chipped in and relied on defense to extend their longest winning streak this season to six.
North Texas (12-7, 5-2) displayed why they rank among the nation's leaders in fewest points conceded per game, having the Owls struggled to find their rhythm throughout.
Robert Allen had 15 points for the Mean Green, followed by CJ Noland 14 points.
In the last two games, the Owls demonstrated their capabilities to win on low-scoring matches from their season average of 84 points per game, therefore, turn up on the defensive side of the ball, outrebounding the Green Mean 38-31 and allowing only 63 points to North Texas.
The Owls have the most wins in Division I, with 52 dating back to the beginning of last season.
North Texas will host UAB on Wednesday.
Florida Atlantic will host Tulsa on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena at 6 p.m. EST.
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