Feb. 28, 2002

Final Stats

ORLANDO, FL - Florida Atlantic University erased a 13-point second half deficit on their way to a 59-50 victory against Jacksonville University Thursday night in a quarterfinal match-up in the Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament in Orlando. The win advances FAU to Friday's semifinals against Jacksonville State.

Jeff Cowans led FAU with 14 points while Earnest Crumbley had 10. JU was led by Kevin Sheppard who scored 15 points. FAU entered the game as the no. 3 seed while JU was the no. 6 seed.

FAU (18-11) trailed 36-23 with 17:25 left in the game before mounting a game-closing 36-14 run to take the nine-point victory. The Owls started the rally with a 15-2 run to tie the game at 38 with 10:10 to play. A three-pointer by Cowans with 5:11 left gave FAU a 47-45 lead, their first of the game. A 9-0 run with 4:40 to play helped FAU seal the victory as they led 56-47 with 1:46 remaining.

Jacksonville (18-12) scored the first five points of the game before the Owls battled back to a 7-7 tie with 14:47 left in the first half. Leading 19-15 with 10:10 left in the half, the Dolphins held the Owls scoreless for the next six minutes to lead 23-15 with 4:10 left. A three-point play by Crumbley stopped the drought for the Owls, but the Dolphins responded with a 6-0 run to lead 29-18 with 31 seconds left in the half. FAU shot just 24 percent in the first half compared to JU's 37 percent.

Both teams shot 34 percent for the game while the Owls held a 47-37 advantage on the boards.

The win sets a new FAU Division I record for wins in a season. The Owls also advanced to the A-Sun Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history. FAU faces no. 7 seed JSU on Friday after the Gamecocks upset no. 2 Troy State 69-62. In other quarterfinal action, no. 1 Georgia State defeated Belmont 82-79 while no. 5 Central Florida defeated no. 4 Samford 84-74.

FAU and JSU will tip at approximately 8:15pm.