The USF Bulls and FAU Owls faced off for the second time this season, and they did not disappoint.
In one of the more dramatic finishes this season, USF beat FAU 83-81 in overtime to hold on to first place in the AAC.
From the opening tip, both teams traded baskets, setting the tone for a tightly contested game. FAU quickly jumped out to a 7-2 lead before USF would make its first big run of the game to try to take control.
Wes Enis had the hot hand for USF early in the game as he would score 10 consecutive points for the Bulls as USF built a 21-14 lead at the 11:28 mark of the first half. USF would extend the lead to 25-16 before FAU would go on an 11-0 run and take the lead 27-25 with 6:28 to go in the half.
The two teams would trade baskets for the rest of the half as FAU would take a 38-36 lead into the locker room at halftime. Wes Enis led the Bulls with 18 points in the first half, while Devin Williams led FAU with 12 points. In his first game back from injury, Kanaan Carlyle added 10 for the Owls. Outside of Enis, both teams struggled from the three-point line in the first half as FAU shot 4/13 and USF shot 4/15.
The two teams traded baskets for most of the second half, with the largest lead for either team being five points by FAU.
USF’s tenacity and ability to respond after FAU runs kept the game close and kept USF within striking distance of FAU in the second half. With under five minutes to play in the game, Joe Pinion went to work for USF, hitting two three-point shots to put USF up 68-67 with 4:25 to play.
With USF up 72-70, Izaiyah Nelson missed a 27-foot three-point shot, and Devin Vanterpool made a layup on the other end to tie the game at 72-72 with seven seconds to play.
Both teams had an offensive possession in the final seconds, but neither could convert, and FAU and USF headed to overtime tied at 72-72.
FAU had opportunities to take control late but couldn’t consistently convert their possessions against USF’s defense. The Bulls, on the other hand, hit key baskets and battled for offensive rebounds, forcing the game into overtime.
Vanterpool split two free throws to start the overtime period, and the Owls took a one-point lead, 73-72. Enis would then drill a three-pointer to put USF up 75-73. With just under two minutes to play in OT, Enis was fouled on a three-point attempt. He made two of three at the line to give USF a 79-77 lead. A C.J. Brown layup would put the Bulls up by four, 81-77, with 1:20 to play in the game.
FAU would battle back and would tie the game up at 81-81 on a Devin Williams three-point shot with 24 seconds to play in the first overtime period. But on the next USF possession, C.J. Brown was fouled on an attempted layup. Brown would make the two free throws, putting the Bulls up 83-81 with eight seconds to play.
FAU would have one final shot to tie or win the game, but Carlyle missed a 28-foot three-point attempt, and the USF Bulls escaped Boca Raton with an 83-81 win in extra time.
Enis led all scorers with 27 points for USF while Brown added 17. Vanterpool had 26 for FAU while Carlyle and Williams each added 15.
With the win, USF has now won four games in a row and maintains its hold on first place in the AAC with a 10-3 conference record and 18-8 overall record.
FAU’s skid continues as the Owls have now lost six in a row and are in 10th place in the conference with a 5-8 conference record, one game ahead of Rice. FAU falls to 14-12 overall on the season.
Up Next
USF will be back home Thursday night when the Bulls take on Memphis. FAU will hit the road for a game at UTSA on Wednesday night. The Owls will look to avoid their seventh straight loss.