Dec. 1, 2007

Final Stats

BOCA RATON, FL - The Florida Atlantic University men's basketball team came up short in its bid to win its home opener for the fifth time in six years. The Owls were defeated by McNeese St. 64-59 on Saturday night.

The two teams were tied at 18 with 11:48 remaining when McNeese St. took control of the game with a 15-2 run over the next nine minutes. FAU closed to within nine at the half behind two Brett Royster free throws and a Carlos Monroe layup. McNeese St. and FAU traded points for the first several minutes of the second half Both teams ultlized their strengths as the Cowboys used their size to pound the boards and FAU used its quickness to get into the paint and draw fouls on the Cowboys.

Sanchez Hughley fouled Kleon Penn in the act of shooting a three pointer with 4:54 remaining in the game. Penn hit all three tries from the line to put McNeese St. up 58-48. FAU closed within three on a 11-4 run capped off by a Sanchez Hughley triple with 52 seconds remaining. The Cowboys' John Ford missed on a jumper, but Jarvis Bradley snagged the offensive rebound and hit two free throws to salt the game away for McNeese St.

Monroe (21), Hughley (10) and Perkins (10) all had double figures for the Owls. FAU continues its home stand on Saturday, December 8, when they host Florida Gulf Coast University. The game will start at 7 p.m.