FAU

RICE

No. 22 Florida Atlantic wins 5th straight with 69-56 victory over Rice

AP
Jan 24, 2024

HOUSTON (AP) Nick Boyd scored 18 points, Johnell Davis added 14 points and nine rebounds and No. 22 Florida Atlantic Owls extended its winning streak to five games with a 69-56 victory over Rice Owls on Wednesday night.

Boyd scored 11 points in the first half as FAU built a 33-26 halftime lead. Davis and Boyd combined to shoot 10 of 17 from the field.

“Just taking open shots and they went in,” Boyd said. “We’re starting to find our groove a little bit, but I think we are light years away from where we’re going to be really soon.”

Alijah Martin added 14 points and eight rebounds for FAU (16-4, 6-1 American Athletic Conference), which outrebounded Rice 43-34 and held a 36-14 advantage in points in the paint. The Owls shot 44%.

“I feel like we’re playing much better than we did a month ago,” FAU coach Dusty May said. “We had a really productive pre-conference (schedule) where we played at a high level. We just didn’t do it as consistently as we needed to, and we’re still learning how difficult it is every single night getting a great effort from these conference opponents.”

Alem Huseinovic scored 16 points and Mekhi Mason added 13 for Rice (7-12, 1-5). The Owls, who have lost six of their last seven, shot 35%. Max Fiedler had 18 rebounds and eight assists.

Rice coach Scott Pera pointed to the Owls' defensive effort to keep FAU, which averages 84 points per game, to 69.

“Losing stinks,” Pera said. “I am disgusted thoroughly, but I also have some level of hope and encouragement because that was our best defensive effort of the year.”

Rice closed within 33-29 to open the second half, but FAU responded with an 11-2 run to extend its lead to 44-31 lead on a layup by Davis with 16 minutes remaining.

Trailing 51-39 with 10½ minutes remaining, Rice used a 9-2 spurt to cut the lead to five on a jumper by Mason with 6:45 left.

“We had got the looks we wanted; we got to the foul line; we had a chance to keep it close, cut it closer, make it closer and we missed six free throws in the second half,” Pera said. “That makes it hard.”

Rice would get no closer than five, and FAU scored five straight points to increase its lead to 62-52 with 3:12 left on a 3-pointer by Martin.

BIG PICTURE

FAU: The Owls defeated Rice for the sixth time in their last seven matchups. ... FAU avoided another Quad 4 loss improving to 5-1. ... The Owls improved to 3-2 on the road and 11-2 when leading at the half this season.

Rice: The Owls have lost 27 straight against ranked opponents. Rice’s last win over a ranked opponent was Jan. 30, 1999, when the Owls defeated No. 24 TCU 76-69. Rice dropped to 0-3 against ranked opponents this season.

UP NEXT

FAU: Hosts North Texas on Sunday.

Rice: Hosts Tulsa on Saturday.

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1st Half
FAU
Owls
33
RICE
Owls
26

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Vladislav Goldin vs. Max Fiedler (Mekhi Mason gains possession)
19:32		Mekhi Mason misses two point jump shot
19:30		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
19:22		Alijah Martin turnover (traveling)
19:00	+2	Alem Huseinovic makes two point jump shot	0-2
18:30		Vladislav Goldin misses two point jump shot
18:28		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
18:17		Vladislav Goldin blocks Mekhi Mason's two point layup
18:15		Mekhi Mason offensive rebound
18:09	+2	Mekhi Mason makes two point layup	0-4
17:50	+3	Bryan Greenlee makes three point jump shot (Vladislav Goldin assists)	3-4
17:31		Travis Evee misses three point jump shot
17:29		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
17:24		Nick Boyd turnover (bad pass) (Keanu Dawes steals)
17:13		Vladislav Goldin blocks Keanu Dawes's two point dunk
17:11		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
16:56		Nick Boyd misses three point jump shot
16:54		Alem Huseinovic defensive rebound
16:36		Keanu Dawes misses three point jump shot
16:34		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
16:18		Vladislav Goldin misses two point jump shot
16:16		Alem Huseinovic defensive rebound
16:07		Alem Huseinovic misses three point jump shot
16:05		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
15:58	+2	Mekhi Mason makes two point jump shot	3-6
15:37	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point jump shot	5-6
15:20		Tre Carroll personal foul (Max Fiedler draws the foul)
15:20		TV timeout
14:59		Owls turnover (shot clock violation)
14:35		Johnell Davis turnover (traveling)
14:10		Mekhi Mason misses three point jump shot
14:08		Tre Carroll defensive rebound
13:59		Brandon Weatherspoon misses two point layup
13:57		Andrew Akuchie defensive rebound
13:43		Travis Evee turnover (lost ball)
13:30		Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
13:28		Brandon Weatherspoon offensive rebound
13:17		Tre Carroll turnover (lost ball) (Mekhi Mason steals)
13:12		Mekhi Mason misses two point layup
13:10		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
13:04		Travis Evee personal foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
12:49		Sam Alajiki personal foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
12:35		Brandon Weatherspoon misses two point jump shot
12:33		Vladislav Goldin offensive rebound
12:28	+2	Vladislav Goldin makes two point jump shot	7-6
12:12	+3	Sam Alajiki makes three point jump shot (Max Fiedler assists)	7-9
11:43		Alijah Martin misses two point jump shot
11:41		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
11:25		Alem Huseinovic misses two point jump shot
11:23		Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
11:15		Noah Shelby shooting foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
11:15		TV timeout
11:15	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	8-9
11:15	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	9-9
10:54		Max Fiedler turnover (lost ball) (Nick Boyd steals)
10:38		Alijah Martin turnover (lost ball) (Max Fiedler steals)
10:22	+2	Alem Huseinovic makes two point jump shot (Max Fiedler assists)	9-11
10:03		Vladislav Goldin misses two point layup
10:01		Owls offensive rebound
9:53		Johnell Davis misses two point layup
9:51		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
9:38		Alem Huseinovic turnover (lost ball) (Nick Boyd steals)
9:33	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point layup	11-11
9:33		Noah Shelby shooting foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
9:33	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 1	12-11
9:15		Travis Evee misses two point jump shot
9:13		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
9:08		Noah Shelby misses two point jump shot
9:06		Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
8:58		Vladislav Goldin turnover (lost ball) (Keanu Dawes steals)
8:39		Travis Evee misses three point jump shot
8:37		Travis Evee offensive rebound
8:19		Brandon Weatherspoon shooting foul (Noah Shelby draws the foul)
8:19	+1	Noah Shelby makes regular free throw 1 of 2	12-12
8:19	+1	Noah Shelby makes regular free throw 2 of 2	12-13
8:02		Johnell Davis misses three point jump shot
8:00		Brenen Lorient offensive rebound
7:51		Brenen Lorient misses two point layup
7:49		Andrew Akuchie defensive rebound
7:41		Bryan Greenlee personal foul (Mekhi Mason draws the foul)
7:41		TV timeout
7:36		Travis Evee misses three point jump shot
7:34		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
7:12	+3	Nick Boyd makes three point jump shot (Bryan Greenlee assists)	15-13
6:48		Jump ball. Travis Evee vs. Nick Boyd (Nick Boyd gains possession)
6:48		Travis Evee turnover (lost ball) (Nick Boyd steals)
6:30	+3	Nick Boyd makes three point jump shot (Brandon Weatherspoon assists)	18-13
6:05	+3	Anthony Selden makes three point jump shot (Max Fiedler assists)	18-16
5:42	+2	Brandon Weatherspoon makes two point layup (Brenen Lorient assists)	20-16
5:21		Johnell Davis personal foul (Anthony Selden draws the foul)
5:06	+2	Anthony Selden makes two point layup (Max Fiedler assists)	20-18
4:59		Sam Alajiki personal foul (Johnell Davis draws the foul)
4:50		Bryan Greenlee misses two point jump shot
4:48		Brandon Weatherspoon offensive rebound
4:43		Brandon Weatherspoon misses two point layup
4:41		Travis Evee defensive rebound
4:19		Sam Alajiki misses two point jump shot
4:17		Nick Boyd defensive rebound
4:09		Johnell Davis misses two point layup
4:07		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
3:43		Alem Huseinovic misses three point jump shot
3:41		Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
3:34		Brandon Weatherspoon misses three point jump shot
3:32		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
3:24		Travis Evee misses two point jump shot
3:22		Bryan Greenlee defensive rebound
3:17	+2	Brandon Weatherspoon makes two point layup (Bryan Greenlee assists)	22-18
2:59	+3	Sam Alajiki makes three point jump shot (Max Fiedler assists)	22-21
2:42	+2	Vladislav Goldin makes two point dunk (Bryan Greenlee assists)	24-21
2:20	+2	Max Fiedler makes two point layup	24-23
2:13	+3	Brandon Weatherspoon makes three point jump shot (Johnell Davis assists)	27-23
1:53		Alem Huseinovic misses two point jump shot
1:51		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
1:42	+2	Vladislav Goldin makes two point layup (Bryan Greenlee assists)	29-23
1:41		Owls 30 second timeout
1:41		TV timeout
1:29	+3	Mekhi Mason makes three point jump shot (Max Fiedler assists)	29-26
1:18	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point layup	31-26
0:49		Travis Evee misses two point jump shot
0:47		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
0:41	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point layup (Alijah Martin assists)	33-26
0:39		Owls 30 second timeout
0:23		Brenen Lorient personal foul (Mekhi Mason draws the foul)
0:03		Travis Evee misses two point jump shot
0:01		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
0:01		Brenen Lorient blocks Max Fiedler's two point layup
0:00		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
FAU
Owls
36
RICE
Owls
30

Time		Play	Score
19:42		Vladislav Goldin shooting foul (Mekhi Mason draws the foul)
19:42		Mekhi Mason misses regular free throw 1 of 2
19:42		Mekhi Mason misses regular free throw 2 of 2
19:42		Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
19:29		Alijah Martin misses two point dunk
19:27		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
19:18	+3	Alem Huseinovic makes three point jump shot (Mekhi Mason assists)	33-29
19:03	+2	Alijah Martin makes two point layup (Bryan Greenlee assists)	35-29
18:54		Mekhi Mason misses two point layup
18:52		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
18:39		Alem Huseinovic misses two point jump shot
18:37		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
18:33		Mekhi Mason misses three point jump shot
18:31		Bryan Greenlee defensive rebound
18:18		Alijah Martin misses two point jump shot
18:16		Mekhi Mason defensive rebound
18:07	+2	Mekhi Mason makes two point jump shot	35-31
17:45	+2	Bryan Greenlee makes two point layup	37-31
17:18		Travis Evee misses two point jump shot
17:16		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
17:08		Mekhi Mason turnover (lost ball) (Johnell Davis steals)
17:08		Mekhi Mason personal foul (Johnell Davis draws the foul)
16:57	+2	Bryan Greenlee makes two point layup	39-31
16:43		Keanu Dawes turnover (bad pass) (Brenen Lorient steals)
16:35	+3	Nick Boyd makes three point jump shot (Brenen Lorient assists)	42-31
16:32		Owls 30 second timeout
16:32		TV timeout
16:05		Anthony Selden misses three point jump shot
16:03		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
15:58		Anthony Selden blocks Johnell Davis's two point layup
15:56		Owls offensive rebound
15:56		TV timeout
15:51	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point jump shot	44-31
15:22	+2	Anthony Selden makes two point layup (Max Fiedler assists)	44-33
15:03		Johnell Davis turnover (lost ball) (Travis Evee steals)
14:44		Anthony Selden turnover (bad pass) (Alijah Martin steals)
14:38	+2	Alijah Martin makes two point dunk	46-33
14:34		Brenen Lorient personal foul (Max Fiedler draws the foul)
14:20		Mekhi Mason misses two point jump shot
14:18		Jalen Gaffney defensive rebound
14:13	+2	Alijah Martin makes two point dunk (Bryan Greenlee assists)	48-33
14:12		Owls 30 second timeout
13:55		Bryan Greenlee personal foul (Anthony Selden draws the foul)
13:36	+2	Anthony Selden makes two point layup	48-35
13:26		Bryan Greenlee turnover (bad pass) (Mekhi Mason steals)
13:16		Travis Evee misses two point layup
13:14		Bryan Greenlee defensive rebound
13:08		Brandon Weatherspoon turnover (traveling)
13:00		Mekhi Mason misses three point jump shot
12:58		Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
12:52		Nick Boyd turnover (bad pass) (Mekhi Mason steals)
12:35		Max Fiedler turnover (3-second violation)
12:25		Vladislav Goldin misses two point hook shot
12:23		Vladislav Goldin offensive rebound
12:20		Jump ball. Vladislav Goldin vs. Max Fiedler (Owls gains possession)
12:17		Vladislav Goldin misses two point jump shot
12:15		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
12:03	+2	Alem Huseinovic makes two point layup (Max Fiedler assists)	48-37
11:50		Sam Alajiki shooting foul (Vladislav Goldin draws the foul)
11:50		TV timeout
11:50	+1	Vladislav Goldin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-37
11:50		Vladislav Goldin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
11:50		Sam Alajiki defensive rebound
11:26		Sam Alajiki misses three point jump shot
11:24		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
11:08		Nick Boyd shooting foul (Noah Shelby draws the foul)
11:08	+1	Noah Shelby makes regular free throw 1 of 2	49-38
11:08	+1	Noah Shelby makes regular free throw 2 of 2	49-39
10:57		Brandon Weatherspoon misses three point jump shot
10:55		Noah Shelby defensive rebound
10:39		Travis Evee misses two point jump shot
10:37		Vladislav Goldin defensive rebound
10:28	+2	Johnell Davis makes two point jump shot	51-39
10:13	+3	Alem Huseinovic makes three point jump shot (Noah Shelby assists)	51-42
10:00		Travis Evee shooting foul (Johnell Davis draws the foul)
10:00	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	52-42
10:00	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	53-42
9:39	+2	Mekhi Mason makes two point jump shot	53-44
9:24		Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
9:22		Max Fiedler defensive rebound
9:08		Brenen Lorient personal foul (Max Fiedler draws the foul)
9:01		Andrew Akuchie misses two point layup
8:59		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
8:38		Bryan Greenlee misses three point jump shot
8:36		Owls offensive rebound
8:14		Andrew Akuchie blocks Jalen Gaffney's two point layup
8:12		Owls offensive rebound
8:12		Owls turnover (shot clock violation)
7:57	+2	Andrew Akuchie makes two point layup (Mekhi Mason assists)	53-46
7:42		Noah Shelby personal foul (Jalen Gaffney draws the foul)
7:42		TV timeout
7:36		Nick Boyd turnover (bad pass) (Noah Shelby steals)
7:12		Noah Shelby misses two point layup
7:10		Andrew Akuchie offensive rebound
7:06		Noah Shelby misses three point jump shot
7:04		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
6:58		Johnell Davis misses three point jump shot
6:56		Andrew Akuchie defensive rebound
6:46	+2	Mekhi Mason makes two point jump shot	53-48
6:31		Alijah Martin misses three point jump shot
6:29		Johnell Davis offensive rebound
6:24	+2	Brenen Lorient makes two point layup (Johnell Davis assists)	55-48
6:11	+2	Noah Shelby makes two point jump shot	55-50
6:04		Andrew Akuchie personal foul (Brenen Lorient draws the foul)
6:00		Anthony Selden shooting foul (Johnell Davis draws the foul)
6:00	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	56-50
6:00	+1	Johnell Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	57-50
5:32	+2	Max Fiedler makes two point jump shot	57-52
5:20		Vladislav Goldin turnover (traveling)
4:53		Noah Shelby misses three point jump shot
4:51		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
4:39		Brandon Weatherspoon misses three point jump shot
4:37		Brandon Weatherspoon offensive rebound
4:33		Sam Alajiki blocks Brandon Weatherspoon's two point layup
4:31		Noah Shelby defensive rebound
4:20		Travis Evee misses two point layup
4:18		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
4:17		Max Fiedler misses two point layup
4:15		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
4:17		Jump ball. Max Fiedler vs. Vladislav Goldin (Owls gains possession)
4:07		Noah Shelby misses two point jump shot
4:05		Bryan Greenlee defensive rebound
3:52	+2	Nick Boyd makes two point layup	59-52
3:35		Travis Evee misses three point jump shot
3:33		Max Fiedler offensive rebound
3:22		Johnell Davis blocks Noah Shelby's three point jump shot
3:20		Johnell Davis defensive rebound
3:15	+3	Alijah Martin makes three point jump shot (Nick Boyd assists)	62-52
3:13		Owls 60 second timeout
3:13		TV timeout
3:04		Nick Boyd shooting foul (Alem Huseinovic draws the foul)
3:04	+1	Alem Huseinovic makes regular free throw 1 of 3	62-53
3:04		Alem Huseinovic misses regular free throw 2 of 3
3:04		Alem Huseinovic misses regular free throw 3 of 3
3:04		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
2:55		Bryan Greenlee misses three point jump shot
2:53		Anthony Selden defensive rebound
2:39		Owls kicked ball violation
2:32		Travis Evee turnover (bad pass)
2:15		Alijah Martin misses two point layup
2:13		Sam Alajiki defensive rebound
2:04		Travis Evee turnover (bad pass) (Alijah Martin steals)
1:56		Anthony Selden blocks Johnell Davis's two point layup
1:54		Owls defensive rebound
1:32		Brenen Lorient shooting foul (Sam Alajiki draws the foul)
1:32		Sam Alajiki misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:32		Sam Alajiki misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:32		Bryan Greenlee defensive rebound
1:06		Alem Huseinovic shooting foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
1:06	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	63-53
1:06	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	64-53
0:59	+3	Alem Huseinovic makes three point jump shot (Mekhi Mason assists)	64-56
0:52		Alem Huseinovic personal foul (Nick Boyd draws the foul)
0:52	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 1 of 2	65-56
0:52	+1	Nick Boyd makes regular free throw 2 of 2	66-56
0:45		Mekhi Mason misses three point jump shot
0:43		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
0:42		Max Fiedler personal foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
0:42	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	67-56
0:42	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 2 of 2	68-56
0:35		Alem Huseinovic misses three point jump shot
0:33		Alijah Martin defensive rebound
0:32		Mekhi Mason personal foul (Alijah Martin draws the foul)
0:32	+1	Alijah Martin makes regular free throw 1 of 2	69-56
0:32		Alijah Martin misses regular free throw 2 of 2
0:32		Johnell Davis offensive rebound
0:10		Owls turnover (shot clock violation)
0:00		End of period

Owls turnover (shot clock violation)