Friday, January 27, 2006

Macon, Ga. -- It's round two between Florida Atlantic and Belmont in Friday night's A-Sun/CSS Men's Basketball Game of the Week. The Bruins will host the Owls at Curb Event Center for a 7:30 pm tip-off. Barry Milligan will provide play-by-play and Sonny Smith will give expert color anaylsis.

With road losses to FAU and Lipscomb still ingrained in its memory, Belmont must use the home court advantage for a much needed win. Last Sunday's matchup between these two teams proved to be a strategic, defensive showdown between head coaches Rick Byrd and Matt Doherty, with Doherty taking a 66-59 advantage.

Belmont held FAU's leading scorer DeAndre Rice to 12 points on 4-for-11 shooting. However, BU had no answer for active forward Rodney Webb, who tallied a game-high 23 points and 11 rebounds.

Tonight will showcase the top two three-point shooting teams in the Atlantic Sun: Florida Atlantic leads the league (.387), with Belmont ranking second (.367).

Despite the frigid shooting Sunday, the Bruins still lead the Atlantic Sun in field goal percentage (.497). Belmont is the only team in the league with three players among the Top 20 in scoring: Justin Hare (14.7), Boomer Herndon (14.5), and Josh Goodwin (12.5), while FAU has two: DeAndre Rice (18.6) and Rodney Webb (14.8).

At 8-2 in the A-Sun, tonight's game is a must win for FAU. The Owls are teetering on the edge. Tied for second with Lipscomb, a win could bump them up to first with Kennesaw State, while a loss could send them to third, tied with ETSU. Belmont (8-9, 6-4 A-Sun) would still hold fifth with a win.

Each of the previous eight Belmont/Florida Atlantic meetings have been decided by eight points or less, two in overtime.

Friday, 7:30 pm (ET)
Florida Atlantic (9-8, 8-2)
at Belmont (8-9, 6-4)
Curb Event Center
Nashville, Tenn.
All-Time Series Record: Tied at 4-4
Conference Series Record: Tied at 4-4
Television -- CSS
Belmont Radio -- Bruins radio (online)
FAU Radio -- WOWL (online) or WLVJ 1040AM

Florida Atlantic Owls (9-8, 8-2 A-Sun)
	Team Roster	Team Stats	Team Results

Belmont Bruins (8-9, 6-4 A-Sun)
	Team Roster	Team Stats	Team Results