Jan. 22, 2002

Final Stats

ORLANDO, FL - Despite a game-high 26 points by Raheim Brown, Florida Atlantic University (10-8, 7-4 Atlantic Sun Conference) was defeated by Central Florida, 62-56, Tuesday night in Orlando, FL. Paul Reed and Stephen Graham each scored 14 points to lead UCF (10-7, 6-5 A-Sun) while Marius Boyd added 11. Earnest Crumbley was the only other Owl in double figures with 10 points. Brown had his eighth double-double of the year with 10 rebounds.

UCF scored took a 7-0 lead with 17:11 left in the first half before taking a 20-8 lead with 11:22 remaining in the half. The Owls would battle back to trail 27-20 at the half.

The Owls' tenacious defense that forced 20 UCF turnovers allowed them to creep back into the game in the second half. A driving lay-up by Robert Williams with 10:35 left gave FAU their first lead at 36-35. A 6-0 run by UCF followed by a 5-0 run by FAU, capped off by a trey by Jeff Cowans, tied the game at 41 with 8:27 to play.

UCF would open up a 57-51 advantage with 2:35 left before a Crumbley three with 2:22 to play pulled FAU to within 57-54. A pair of free throws by Brown with 55 seconds left following an Al Miller jumper pulled FAU to within 59-56 and set up one final try for the Owls with 20 seconds remaining. Cowans leaned in for a three-pointer at the top of the key with six seconds left that was off the mark, and the Golden Knights scored their final three points from the free throw line on their way to the six-point victory.

FAU was outshot 45 percent to 38 percent but went just 2-of-17 from beyond the arc. Crumbley dished out a game-high eight assists. It was FAU's fifth consecutive loss at UCF Arena.

Florida Atlantic next plays at Belmont January 28.