BOCA RATON – This game was decided quite early on.
At the 19:33 mark of the first half, No. 15 FAU (8-2) opened the scoring with an authoritative dunk by guard Brandon Weatherspoon (12 points tonight).
Watch the game’s first bucket unfold below for yourself.
19:33 1H: @__bloading__ puts down a thunderous dunk to give @FAUMBB a 2-0 lead over @FIUHoops @CoachDustyMay pic.twitter.com/nXS7PB72AZ
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
FIU (3-8) made the game a bit interesting for the first few minutes, as the road team was down by just three points at 5-2 with 16:37 left in the first half.
But after forward Giancarlo Rosado (six points tonight) banked in a jumper at the 15:38 mark of the first half to give FIU a 7-2 lead, it was off to the races from there.
Watch Rosado’s jump shot below.
15:38 1H: @giancarlo_345 gives us a nice jumper to put @FAUMBB up 7-2 over @FIUHoops pic.twitter.com/B3GOtHtXVi
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
When we reached the 10:59 mark of the first half, FIU’s hopes to make it a game officially ended.
Watch how Rosado ended FIU’s upset hopes in one fell swoop.
10:59 1H: @giancarlo_345 gives us his second made bucket of the game here to put @FAUMBB up 15-5 over @FIUHoops.
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
We have a double-digit lead here for the nation’s No. 15 team. 🦉 pic.twitter.com/OWRKny37Hz
From that point on, FAU was in full control as it exploded with a 28-15 run to the first half buzzer.
At halftime, FAU sported a 43-20 lead over FIU.
In this space, we will highlight a three-point play sequence from FIU graduate guard/forward Dante Wilcox (Oxbridge Academy 2019 alum; five points tonight).
Take a look below to see what Wilcox did as the first half was headed toward its end.
HALFTIME: @FAUMBB has commanding 43-20 lead over @FIUHoops 🦉🐆@Dantewilcox14: Made 1-of-2 FT’s and got an easy lay-up in after #FIU got an offensive rebound here inside the 30-second mark of the first half.@GoOxbridge @ConferenceUSA pic.twitter.com/tIqp0joHiP
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
The second half was mostly about FAU, as the home team just kept scoring with ease and at will quite often.
One team highlight sequence: FAU started the second half on a blazing 10-0 run that featured two three-pointers to extend the lead to 53-20 over FIU.
To put this as nicely as possible, FAU’s lead throughout the second half never got below 20 points. And at one point – 9:14 left in the second half – the scoring margin was 37 in favor of FAU.
We will show you one play from junior guard Alijah Martin (14 points tonight) that iced this one even further.
Watch for yourself.
5:20 2H: @martin_alijah makes a three-pointer to give @FAUMBB an 82-49 lead over @FIUHoops. pic.twitter.com/xHpOKx4LKB
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
To sum it all up, FAU shot 64.3 percent from the field and made exactly 50 percent of its three-pointers from start to finish.
FAU out-rebounded FIU, 43-27.
Watch FAU’s press conference from tonight in two segments, which you can see for yourself.
•Johnell Davis and Bryan Greenlee
Press conference: @FAUMBB 🦉@KOBNelly / @bgreenlee21 spoke to a group of media members on tonight’s 94-60 home win over @FIUHoops and more.@CoachDustyMay pic.twitter.com/3FxT1SxhqD
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
•Head coach Dusty May
Press conference: @FAUMBB 🦉@CoachDustyMay spoke to a group of media members on tonight’s 94-60 home win over @FIUHoops and more. pic.twitter.com/ToF4gAvOIe
— New Era Prep (@EraPrep) December 14, 2023
TOP PERFORMERS FOR FAU
•Johnell Davis – 16 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 rebounds
•Alijah Martin – 14 points, 5 rebounds, 3 steals
•Bryan Greenlee – 12 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
•Brandon Weatherspoon – 12 points on 50 percent shooting (4-for-8 total; 3-for-6 on three-pointers)
•Vladislav Goldin – 9 points (3-for-3 in field goals), 9 rebounds
NEXT GAME FOR FAU: Saturday, Dec. 16 at St. Bonaventure (7-2); 4 p.m. tipoff on ESPNU and Fox Sports South Florida
PHOTO CREDITS: Christian Proscla
