SPORTS

Junior forward Brett Royster was named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year on Tuesday, March 2.

Royster was ranked 13th in the nation in blocked shots, averaging 2.9 a game. He also set his personal career high for blocks in a game with seven on two separate occasions. In addition, he set the school record for blocked shots in both a single season with 84 and career with 198.

“He’s one of the best shot-blockers in the country,” said head coach Mike Jarvis in a press release.

Royster wasn’t the only FAU player to receive an accolade. Freshman guards Greg Gantt and Raymond Taylor were both named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team. Gantt led Sun Belt freshmen and is fifth overall in scoring at 15.7 points per game. Nationally, Gantt is tied for 30th in 3-point shots per game at 2.9 and is 34th in the nation for 3-point percentage.

Taylor led the Sun Belt in assists, averaging six per game, which places him at a tie for ninth place nationally. Taylor broke the school record for assists in a season at 174.

“It’s nice to know that people around the conference have that much respect for our backcourt, especially as freshmen,” said Jarvis.

The Owls begin the Sun Belt Conference Tournament as the No. 8 seed on Saturday, March 6. FAU will face No. 9 seed South Alabama at 3:15 p.m. EST.