Owls Soar Over Shockers in Second-Half Surge at FAU Arena
The Florida Atlantic Owls, ranked 23rd, showcased their dominance on the court with a resounding victory over the Wichita State Shockers. The final scoreboard read 86-77 in favor of the home team, improving their season record to an impressive tally. The Owls' performance was particularly remarkable in the second half where they outscored their opponents by a significant margin.
The game at FAU Arena witnessed an intense battle where both teams fought hard, but it was the Florida Atlantic Owls who emerged victorious with superior play. The home team's offense was firing on all cylinders as they made 31 field goals out of 66 attempts, translating to a solid 47 percent shooting from the field. Their prowess from beyond the arc was also notable despite shooting at a lower rate of 33 percent with nine three-pointers made.
Defensively, Florida Atlantic was just as formidable; they blocked five shots and had ten steals which contributed to their fast break points tallying up to 22. This defensive hustle also led to them scoring an impressive 17 points off turnovers caused by Wichita State's fourteen mishaps.
On top of that, Florida Atlantic excelled in rebounding with a total of 36 rebounds—22 defensive and an outstanding number of offensive rebounds at thirteen—which led to them scoring twenty-one second-chance points. Their free throw performance stood out as well; sinking fifteen out of twenty-two attempts gave them a commendable free throw percentage of sixty-eight.
The Shockers were not without merit; they shot an efficient fifty-six percent from two-point range and forty-four percent from three-point land. They also managed thirty-eight points in paint and twelve second-chance points but struggled slightly more from the charity stripe with only fifty percent accuracy.
As for individual performances, several players stepped up for both sides but it is worth noting that assists played a crucial role for Florida Atlantic who dished out sixteen assists compared to Wichita State's nine. This teamwork helped maintain control throughout most parts of the game despite there being five times when scores were tied and three lead changes during playtime.
Looking ahead after this conference game triumph, fans can catch the next action-packed encounter when Florida Atlantic Owls visit San Antonio to face UTSA Roadrunners at UTSA Convocation Center on January 21st at 2:00 PM local time (3:00 PM Eastern). This upcoming match will be available for viewing on ESPN+ via internet broadcast networks.