Mustangs Gallop, Owls Soar in Boca Raton Showdown

In a closely contested game at FAU Arena, the SMU Mustangs faced off against the Florida Atlantic Owls. The Mustangs entered the match with a record of 0-0, looking to start their season strong. However, despite a valiant effort and leading by as many as 6 points during the game, they fell short with a final score of 70-80.

The SMU Mustangs started off on solid footing in the first half, putting up 37 points against the Owls' 41. Their offensive efforts were led by impressive two-point shooting at a rate of 46 percent from within the arc. The team also made six out of twenty-two three-point attempts, culminating in an overall field goal percentage of 39 percent for the game.

Defensively, SMU showcased their ability to protect their basket with six blocks and four steals. However, they struggled to contain Florida Atlantic's offense which managed to score an impressive number of points in paint totaling 42. The Mustangs' defensive rebounds stood at twenty while they grabbed eleven offensive rebounds contributing to second-chance opportunities that resulted in eight additional points.

The free throw line was another area where SMU demonstrated proficiency; they converted sixteen out of twenty-three attempts resulting in a free throw percentage rounded up to seventy percent. Despite this accuracy from the charity stripe and scoring fifteen points off turnovers thanks to nine Owl turnovers compared to their own nine player turnovers, it wasn't enough for them to secure victory.

Florida Atlantic's performance was notable for its efficiency inside shooting with fifty-four percent success on two-point shots and forty-six percent overall field goal percentage. They also edged out SMU on assists with eighteen total assists reflecting better ball movement which contributed significantly towards their win.

As both teams battled throughout regulation time which saw seven ties and eight lead changes indicating how competitive this conference game was; ultimately it was Florida Atlantic who maintained composure securing victory through consistent play across both halves scoring forty-one and thirty-nine respectively.

Looking ahead after this tough loss on foreign hardwoods; fans can catch Southern Methodist University Mustangs next as they travel again facing South Florida Bulls at Yuengling Center located in Tampa on February 25th at 11:00 AM Central Time broadcasted live on ESPNU network ensuring supporters won’t miss any action from this upcoming contest.