Jan. 4, 2004

BOCA RATON, FL - Fresh off a 90-72 victory over Mercer on Saturday night, Florida Atlantic University will look to tie its best start in the Atlantic Sun Conference when it faces Georgia State University Monday night. Tip-off is set for 7:00pm at FAU Gymnasium. FAU enters the game 6-4 and 3-0 in the A-Sun

FAU used a 30-12 run in the final 9:57 of Saturday's game to pull away from Mercer. Kakleaf Watson scored 14 of his career-high 18 points during the run. The sophomore scored all of his points in the second half and went 9-for-10 from the field. Mike Bell added 15 while Robert Williams and Jimmy Bishop each scored 11. The win gave FAU its first 3-0 start in the A-Sun since the 1997-98 season. FAU's best start was 4-0 in 1996-97.

Bell continues to lead the Owls with 20.0 points and 7.9 rebounds per game.Pierre Tucker is averaging 14.3ppg.

Georgia State enters the game 6-4 overall but 1-2 in the A-Sun. Most recently, the Panthers were defeated by Central Florida, 70-60, Saturday night in Orlando. On December 22, GSU picked up a big non-conference win with a 77-72 victory at Auburn. GSU had won four of five before falling to UCF. Nate Williams, a preseason all-conference selection, leads the team with 14.0 points per game in only four appearances. Kevin Thomas is second with 12.1ppg.

This will be the 21st meeting between the two teams with Georgia State holding a 14-6 series edge. The two teams have split their last four meetings after GSU won seven straight. The Owls are 5-3 at FAU Gymnasium. The teams have met three times in the A-Sun Tournament. The last three outings, including the 2002 A-Sun Tournament title gam, have been decided by five points or less.

Tickets are available at the door. Prices are $7.00 for adult reserved, $5 for seniors/children reserved, and $5 for general admission.