The Florida Atlantic Owls (7-6, 0-2 in Conference USA) could not pick up their first conference win of the year against the University of Alabama Birmingham Blazers, losing 66-57.

The Owls started off the game very sluggishly shooting 42 percent from the field and a dismal 54 percent from the free-throw line.

Their shooting woes also extended out to 3-point range where they shot 25 percent in the first period. Even with the poor shooting the Owls were only down by two points at half-time.

Senior forward Kelvin Penn had seven points and five rebounds in the first half. The leading scorer for FAU in the first half was junior guard Solomon Poole. He had nine points, but he shot just 2-of-9 from the field.

Even with their shooting woes, the Owls were only down by two points at half-time, 32-30.

Freshman center C.J. Turman came out aggressively in the second half, after not scoring and picking up three quick fouls in the first half. He scored 10 points in the second period and kept the Owls in the game.

In the second half, the Owls had trouble stopping the UAB offense. The Blazers led for much of the way, as FAU struggled to get back on defense and defend UAB’s shooting.

The Owls kept the game close for most of the second half, and they led 57-56 after junior forward Javier Lacunza hit a 3-pointer with 3:23 left in the game. Lacunza finished with 11 points.

The Owls did not score after the Lacunza’s final shot, though. The Blazers (6-9, 2-0 in Conference USA) scored all ten final points of the game, dooming the Owls to a nine-point road loss.

Junior guard Jackson Trapp led all Owls scorers with 13 points. FAU takes Middle Tennessee State on Saturday, Jan. 10.