Can Florida Atlantic Owls Outmaneuver SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum?

As the Florida Atlantic Owls prepare to face off against the SMU Mustangs, fans are eager to see if their team can bounce back from recent setbacks. The upcoming clash at Moody Coliseum on January 4th promises to be a pivotal moment for the Owls, who have shown both promise and areas in need of improvement in their past performances.

In their last game on December 30th against the UAB Blazers, FAU scored 53 points but fell short as UAB took home a victory with 65 points. The statistics reveal some concerns; while matching UAB's total rebounds at 40, FAU struggled with turnovers, committing 13 compared to UAB's more efficient play. Moreover, FAU's field goal percentage was just 37 percent and their three-point attempts were successful only 20 percent of the time – numbers that will need to be improved upon if they hope to compete against SMU.

However, it wasn't all bleak for FAU. They showed tenacity in points scored within the paint totaling an impressive 36 points which indicates strong inside play. This strength could be key in overcoming SMU's defense.

Looking further back at a game on December 21st versus San Diego State Aztecs, FAU again faced challenges as they were outscored by a significant margin (48-75). Despite this loss, there was a silver lining: free throw accuracy stood out with an impressive rate of approximately 71 percent. This is one area where consistency could provide them with an edge over opponents.

The game before that on December 18th saw a closer contest against UCF Knights where FAU narrowly secured victory by one point (59-58). In this matchup, they demonstrated resilience and clutch performance especially from beyond the arc hitting half of their three-point shots. Their defensive effort also shone through with four blocks and five steals contributing significantly to disrupting UCF’s rhythm.

As we look ahead towards the confrontation with SMU Mustangs, it is clear that Florida Atlantic Owls have areas where they excel and others that require attention. To emerge victorious from Dallas' Moody Coliseum – known for its raucous atmosphere – ball security will be crucial along with maintaining high shooting percentages both from free throws and field goals.

FAO fans should mark their calendars for January 4th when tip-off is scheduled for an evening start at exactly eight o'clock local time (Eastern Time Zone). Those unable to attend can still catch all the action live as it unfolds right from Dallas' own Moody Coliseum floor – ensuring not a moment of excitement is missed by loyal supporters cheering on from afar.