The Florida Atlantic University Owls (2-3, 0-2 in Conference USA) started off the game sluggishly but managed to pull out a win against Division II team Ave Maria (5-2).

“I thought we missed shots,” said head coach Michael Curry of the team’s shooting. “In the second half they started hitting some of the wide open shots they were getting.”

Although, they did play stifling defense to hold the Gyrenes to 24 percent shooting for the first half.

“We defended what they were doing,” said Curry.

Both teams struggled to score at the beginning as the Owls’ lead 20-13 at the half. The Owls picked up their scoring in the second half. The Owls’ 7-point lead ballooned into a 20-point lead as they almost ran away with the game.

However, the Gyrenes tried to mount a late-game comeback, dwindling the FAU lead from 20 to eight with two minutes left in the second half. The Owls hit some timely shots to hold onto the lead.

Junior guard Jackson Trapp hit a 3-pointer in the waning minutes of the game. Trapp started off hot, hitting 2-of-4 3-pointers for the Owls in the first half.

He continued his hot shooting in the second half hitting four more threes. He was 6-of-11 on the day and scored 20 points for the game.

“I had a lot of open shots,” said Trapp, who shot over 54 percent from the field. “Overall, we moved the ball well and my teammates were able to get me open.”

The FAU defense stymied the Gyrene offense for a majority of the game. Ave Maria shot just 34 percent for the game from the field and 21 percent from 3-point range.  Up next for the Owls is Eastern Carolina University at home on Wednesday, Dec. 3.