After a four game road trip that saw the Owls go 1-3, FAU returned to the Burrow for its regular season home opener against George Mason. The game proved a thriller for the more than 2,800 in attendance, as it took an extra five minutes to provide a crucial 80 – 75 victory for FAU .“For us to come out, especially in front of this crowd at home,” said guard Ray Taylor, “to go against a big program like George Mason is a great lift.”
Taylor received the starting nod tonight over Alex Tucker, and his impact was greatly felt, as he dropped a team leading 15 points on six of 15 shooting. He also grabbed a team leading seven boards, despite standing at only 5” 6’.
The game started slow, as each team reached 19 free throws on the night. The referees played a huge role in slowing the game down, as only two fast break points were scored — both coming for FAU. Neither team held more than a five point advantage during the opening 20 minutes. George Mason went on a 10 – 2 run to close out the first half 35- 30. Big man Ryan Pearson netted 14 points in the first half for the Patriots.
FAU, with Taylor at the helm, put on a clinic to start the second half. With a two-handed slam from forward Kore White, followed by reverse layups from Pablo Bertone and Taylor, the Owls began to slowly close the gap. At 15:02 of the 2nd half, Taylor weaved through defense north to south for an easy layup that gave FAU a three point lead. Nine minutes into the second half the Owls had worked up a generous 47-39 lead after going on a 17-4 run. Pearson net his first points of the second half with only 4:53 remaining in the game to bring the score to 57-49 FAU.
“That team goes as Pearson goes,” said Taylor when asked about holding Pearson to just four points the second half. “So everyone just made a conscious effort to know where he was in the second half.”
George Mason started a full court trap and it provided some trouble for Taylor as he has a hard time getting out of the back court, and he lost the ball multiple times. George Mason closed FAU’s lead down to a mere six points with 4:40 left off the Taylor turnover. Missed shots and sloppy defense saw FAU’s 12 point lead blown, as Mike Morrison of the Patriots knotted the game 62-62 with two minutes left. With ten seconds left in the game Alex Tucker was fouled on the inbound pass, and he made one of two from the free throw line, his only point of the night, to give FAU a 66-64 lead. The Patriots drove down the court and Pearson made his second basket of the half to tie the game 66-66 with 1.8 seconds. Taylor would miss a running 3-point attempt at the buzzer before the game retied to overtime.
The Owls took an early lead in overtime, 72-71, but the turning point came with 2:15 left, when Taylor coughed up the ball at half court. Freshman Corey Edwards of George Mason dove on the ball and called a timeout. George Mason was charged with a technical foul because they had no timeouts left. Bertone shot two free throws and made both to give FAU a 74-71 lead. The Owls held on to the lead and played solid shut down defense to close out the game 80-75.
“We had to prove ourselves, and I think we played really hard,” said Bertone, “It was a great game. The atmosphere was crazy.”
After the victory, FAU moved to a 2-3 record, and the Patriots dropped to 2-2. Tuesday, the Owls travel to Hofstra to take on the Pride who sit at 2-1.
