Jan. 8, 2004

BOCA RATON, FL -- Florida Atlantic University heads back out on the road for a two-game trip that begins with a match-up with Jacksonville University Friday night in Jacksonville, FL. Tip-off is set for 7:30pm at Swisher Gym. The game can be heard live on WLVJ 1040-AM and www.fausports.com. The can is also being televised by Comcast/Charter Sports Southeast (CSS).

FAU enters the game 6-5 on the year and 3-1 in the Atlantic Sun Conference. The Owls are coming off their first A-Sun setback of the season with Monday's 79-76 loss to Georgia State. Junior forward Mike Bell continues to lead the Owls and the A-Sun with 20.0 points per game. Bell is second in the conference with 7.9 rebounds per game.

Through four games, the Owls have already matched their A-Sun win total of a year ago. FAU needs one more win to equal its overall win total from the 2002-03 season. The last time FAU started 4-1 in the A-Sun was in 1997-98.

Jacksonville enters the game 6-4 overall and 1-2 in the A-Sun. The team is coming off an 82-65 victory at Lipscomb on Monday night. Its two A-Sun losses have been against Troy State and Belmont. Four players are averaging in double-figures with Haminn Quaintance leading all scorers with 14.1 points per game. He's also the team's leading rebounder at 9.6 per game. David Lee is averaging 13.6 points while Woury Diallo is tossing in 12.0.

This is the 15th meeting between the two teams with Jacksonville holding a 10-4 series edge. JU swept the season series last year and has won four of the past six meetings. Of the 14 times the two have met, only once has the outcome been decided by four points or less. FAU is 1-6 at Jacksonville.

Florida Atlantic concludes its road trip Sunday afternoon at Stetson.