Jan. 3, 2003

Florida Atlantic University (4-8, 0-0 A-Sun) returns to the scene of the biggest moment in program history as the Owls travel to Orlando to take on Central Florida (8-4, 0-0 A-Sun) at UCF Arena on Saturday. It marks the first game FAU has played in the arena since winning the A-Sun Tournament there last March. The game begins at 2:00pm and can be heard live on WLVJ 1040-AM. The game will also be televised live on Sunshine Network.

FAU is coming off an 87-70 loss at UC-Irvine on December 30. The game was the last non-conference contest of the regular season for the Owls, who now play their remaining 16 games against A-Sun teams.

FAU is led by junior guard Earnest Crumbley, who is averaging 17.6 points per game. Crumbley is third in the A-Sun in scoring. Junior guard Jeff Cowans is averaging 14.8 and is ninth in the A-Sun. Both Cowans and Crumbley are now 3 and 4, respectively, on FAU's all-time scoring list.

UCF started the season 5-1 and is 3-3 since that time. The Golden Knights are led by the A-Sun's leading scorer, Ray Abellard, a senior guard who is averaging 18.8 points per game. Senior forward Ed Dotson is averaging 13.2 points.

FAU trails the all-time series 15-5 and is 1-9 on the road. FAU will try to snap a five game losing streak against UCF at UCF Arena. The Owls are 4-9 all-time at UCF Arena, having won all three games in last year's A-Sun Tournament.

All 12 A-Sun teams are in action on Saturday in conference games. For the first time since 1997, the A-Sun will be divided up into two divisions. FAU is in the A-Sun South along with UCF, Stetson, Jacksonville, Troy State, and Mercer. Georgia State, Campbell, Gardner-Webb, Samford, Jacksonville State, and Belmont make up the A-Sun North. FAU finished third in last year's A-Sun regular season before winning the A-Sun Tournament.

The game can also be heard live on www.fausports.com.