FAU (7-5) has won three straight games after defeating Texas State (7-4) 89-80 on Saturday afternoon at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena in Boca Raton. The Owls are 33-2 at home dating back to March of 2022.
“Three wins in a row is a blessing for our guys,” FAU first-year coach John Jakus said. “Almost three double digit wins in a row, but clearly there were a few rebounds and threes down the stretch. I thought the guys overall handled the press and close game well. We had a bunch of different lineups and guys that played below 20 minutes and managed to get in double figures.”
Five Owls players scored in double digits, including Tre Carroll, who cashed in a team-high 18 points in just 17 minutes. Carroll has been hot lately, coming off his two best career games after dropping 24 points against FIU and 17 against Jacksonville.
“Tre averaged four minutes a game (last year),” Jakus said. “I know he is a fan favorite and everyone loves him. He looks like aquaman. I get the whole vibe. But to go from four minutes a game to what he’s done in the last two weeks… to get a player of the week in the whole conference… he deserves to be complimented.”
“And how special is it for a kid to not start, and never know exactly what his role is, to deliver the way he has the last two weeks. We are thrilled with him right now.”
FAU freshman Matas Vokietaitis was one rebound shy of his first career double-double, recording 13 points and nine rebounds (tied a career high). Baba Miller, the only Owl to record a double-double this season (three times), recorded 11 points, five rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.
“We’re trying to get to the point this season where both Tre and Matas have good games together,” Jakus said. “Early on we’d get these big leads in the season and they would go small. We were fighting between our small ball and our big ball lineup. I feel like we’re getting closer. Two games in a row both guys have got in double figures.”
Texas State’s 18 turnovers proved to be the difference Saturday. FAU only had six turnovers. In terms of shooting, the Bobcats shots 52% from the field and 45% from three-point range while FAU shot 53% from the field and 41% from downtown.
Another difference maker: FAU had 23 assists on 31 baskets, which Jakus called “out of this world”.
“When we share, we are pretty to watch. We are going to keep on working on being ugly on the other end.”
FAU’s strength this season has been their ability to get contributions from players off the bench as they came into Saturday’s matchup 15th in the nation in bench points (35.2). Saturday was no different as FAU had 44 points off the bench.
“We’ve said it since the preseason… we are a very deep squad,” Miller said. “Everybody is very very talented and I feel like now everyone is starting to learn each other, how to play with each other, and have more of a connection with everyone on the floor. I feel like the bench players are equally as good as the starters. It’s just a lineup decision by the coaches. When they come into the game they affect the game just as much as we (the starters) do.”
Next Up
FAU will have an entire week off before they travel to the Breslin Center to face No. 21 Michigan State (8-2), the toughest opponent the Owls have faced all year. Tip-off is at 2:00 PM on Dec. 21.
“This was our last home game of the 2024 calendar year, and now we look forward to go and play Michigan State on the 21st, and then we’ll be back at the Elly on January 2nd,” Miller said.
The Spartans are third in the country in fastbreak points (205) and seventh in rebound margin (11). Miller isn’t worried, though.
“The deeper the squad is, the more effort we can give on both ends to try to speed the other teams up on defense and run on offense. We have enough talent to do that, we just have to stay consistent with our effort.”
Other Notes:
- The Owls came into the matchup 21st in the nation in PPG (85.8) and sixth in the nation in threes (113).
- Saturday was Texas State’s second-ever game in the Sunshine State. The Bobcats played at Miami in 1992.
- Texas State had only played FAU once previously, in 2016, where they won 61-57.
- Texas State has the second oldest player in Division 1 basketball. Drue Dinnon is 25 years old. He scored seven points against the Owls Saturday.
- Texas State is one of only two teams in the country with two or fewer underclassmen on the roster. They are one of three teams with zero freshman on the roster.
- Texas State is now 65-112 all-time against AAC opponents.
- FAU is now 4-0 this season when scoring 80-89 points.
- This marks FAU’s first win of the season when allowing an opponent to score 80 or more points.