FAU opened conference play in the AAC with a blowout 110-70 win over UTSA Wednesday afternoon. The Owls (9-5) easily had their best shooting performance of the season, shooting a season-best 58% from the field and 51% from three (18 made three-pointers).
“A really smart guy once told me one time when you make shots, everyone plays harder,” FAU head coach John Jakus said. “You’re going to have maybe five games like that where you just make everything you throw up. It’s not going to be consistent. Today just happened to be one of those days and so we are going to enjoy it.”
Less than eight minutes into the contest in Boca Raton, it already seemed like it was too little, too late for UTSA (4-9). After FAU went on a 21-0 run to take a 23-5 lead in the first half, the Roadrunners seemed lost for the rest of the game. The Owls took a 60-28 lead into the locker room at the half and the rest was history.
FAU had six players score in double figures, including Devin Vanterpool, FAU’s longest-tenured player and leading scorer. Vanterpool had 21 points and five threes, including 16 first-half points, in just 21 minutes. Kanaan Carlyle, FAU’s second-leading scorer, added 16 points and four threes. Niccolo Moretti also had a season-high eight assists.
“How much we love each other will really separate us,” Jakus said. “I’m really thrilled with the way they loved each other today.”
The way FAU played on defense, especially in the paint, and the way they shared the ball, translated to easy points. Coach Jakus said postgame that Wednesday’s defensive effort was as good as it’s been all year. FAU doesn’t need to make 18 threes every night if the defense comes to play.
Jakus gave credit to FAU assistant coach Isaiah Austin for holding UTSA to low shooting splits (31% from the field and 29% from three). Jakus said Austin directed the defensive matchups and spacing, determining when players helped in the gaps and when to close out on three-point shooters. Austin is a former Baylor University basketball star who was projected as an NBA prospect. His NBA chances were severely impacted when he was diagnosed with Marfan syndrome. Before joining Jakus’ staff at FAU, Austin worked in the NBA front office with a focus on player development.
FAU held UTSA leading-scorer Jamir Simpson to just nine points on 2-of-12 shooting. Simpson entered the game second in the AAC with 18.8 PPG (58th in the NCAA). The Roadrunners’ leading scorer was redshirt junior Austin Nunez, who scored a career-high 22 points in 34 minutes.
Next Up
FAU’s first game of the new year will be in New Orleans when the Owls face Tulane (10-4) on Jan. 4 at 1:00 p.m.
Other Notes
- FAU entered the game 11th in the country with 5.9 blocks per game. They recorded six blocks Wednesday.
- FAU is 45-8 at home since March of 2022.
- This is FAU’s third 100+ point game at home this season.
- FAU is now 13-6 all-time against UTSA. The Owls have won six straight against the Roadrunners.