Nov. 5, 2008

Final Stats |  Action Photos 

BOCA RATON, FL - In Mike Jarvis' debut as head coach at Florida Atlantic the Owls defeated Lynn University 73-69.

The paid attendance totaled 1,292 - a crowd larger than any regular season game at the FAU Arena last season. It was the first exhibition contest for both schools.

FAU sophomore Xavier Perkins, a product of Boca Raton's St. Andrew's High School, made a pair of free throws with :13 seconds left and finished with 18 points. The Owls had led by as many as 15 in the first half.

Lynn - a Division II university located just four miles from FAU's Boca Raton campus - rallied to cut the lead to four at halftime, 40-36.

Chris Hall finished with a team-high 18 points and four assists for Lynn. Backcourt mate Randy Jones added 15. The pair combined to make 5-of-10 from 3-point range. A Hall 3-pointer allowed the Fighting Knights its first lead midway through the second half.

Tied 54-54 with 10:53 remaining, FAU's All-America forward Carlos Monroe knocked-down a 14-foot jump shot. On the Owls' next possession Carderro Nwoji made one of his four 3-pointers to extend the FAU lead to five.

FAU freshman starter Shavar Richardson - one of three players recruited by Jarvis who debuted Wednesday - scored 11, seven in the second half.

An inspired effort by Lynn kept the Fighting Knights in the game until the final seconds. Lynn got a lay-up from John Brown to take a 66-63 lead with 3:25 on the clock.

At the two-minute mark the game was even at 67-67 before Monroe scored in transition to give FAU a one-basket advantage. Monroe finished with 21 points to lead all scorers.

In the final moments the raucous crowd saw Perkins grab an offensive rebound and draw a foul. With :13 seconds left Perkins drained both free-throws. A Monroe rebound and an immediate Lynn foul on the other end - coupled with a technical on Lynn head coach Scott McMillin - put the game on ice for FAU.