No. 23 Florida Atlantic survives UTSA in overtime

Field Level Media|published: Sun 21st January, 17:52 2024

Jan 18, 2024; Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls center Vladislav Goldin (50) reacts after being fouled by Wichita State Shockers during the second half at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena. credits: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports

Alijah Martin scored six points in a crucial 36-second span of overtime as No. 23 Florida Atlantic edged past pesky UTSA 112-103 on Sunday afternoon in San Antonio.

With the score 96-all during the extra session, Martin stole the ball and made a layup and a free throw. Then he hit the first of his two long-range 3-pointers in a nine-point overtime output.

Martin had 26 points, five rebounds, five assists and two steals. Johnell Davis — who forced overtime with three free throws after being fouled with 16.6 seconds left — had 34 points and seven rebounds.

Brandon Weatherspoon had 21 points and six boards and Nick Boyd recorded 12 points and six assists for the Owls (15-4, 5-1 American), who routed UTSA 106-66 last Feb. 23 at home in the last meeting.

The Owls shot 38-for-73 (52.1 percent) and hit 17 of 35 attempts (48.6 percent) from behind the arc.

A 16-point favorite, FAU won its fourth straight game and moved to 11-6 in the series' history.

UTSA's Jordan Ivy-Curry netted a career-high 38 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Christian Tucker produced a double-double with 19 points and 12 assists.

Isaiah Wyatt had 14 points and six rebounds and Massal Diouf added 10 points and five rebounds for the Roadrunners (7-12, 1-5), who lost their fourth straight and fell to 2-8 in the past 10 games.

UTSA went 25-of-32 (78.1 percent) from the foul line.

In the game's first 1:26 of play, UTSA let the nationally-ranked visitors know that it would not be an easy day of AAC play.

Wyatt canned a pair of treys while Dre Fuller Jr. added one in a 9-0 start. They eventually made their five of six shots to lead 13-8 at the first media timeout.

Aided by a Class A technical foul against Weatherspoon at 10:17, UTSA built its advantage to 36-20 as Wyatt and Carlton Linguard Jr. each hit a long ball.

The Owls ran off seven of eight shots to cut it to 42-38, but Tucker sank four free throws to leave UTSA with a 53-49 halftime lead.

UTSA led by seven early in the second half, but after FAU rallied down the stretch the Roadrunners needed five straight points to move ahead 91-88 in the final minute, setting up Davis' game-tying free throws.

—Field Level Media

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