No. 14 Florida Atlantic took down No. 4 Arizona in a double overtime classic in American Athletic Conference men's basketball action on Saturday, December 23.
North Texas 78, UT Arlington 52 - Box Score
DENTON, Texas (AP) Jason Edwards had 26 points in North Texas' 78-52 victory against UT Arlington on Saturday.
Edwards was 9 of 17 shooting, including 4 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 5 from the free-throw line for the Mean Green (6-5). C.J. Noland scored 13 points while going 4 of 7 from the floor, including 3 for 5 from 3-point range, and 2 for 3 from the foul line, and added five assists. Rubin Jones had 13 points and was 6-of-11 shooting (1 for 6 from 3-point range).
Shemar Wilson led the way for the Mavericks (6-6) with 20 points. UT Arlington also got nine points and two steals from Akili Vining. In addition, Phillip Russell finished with seven points and four assists.
No. 14 Florida Atlantic 96, No. 4 Arizona 95 - Box Score
LAS VEGAS (AP) With Florida Atlantic and Arizona going back and forth Saturday, forcing one overtime and then a second, it didn't feel like an early-season tournament game.
These teams could wind up facing each other again in March with much more on the line than the Desert Classic.
If so, they will have a difficult time topping the No. 14 Owls' 96-95 victory over No. 4 Arizona for FAU's first win over a top-10 team. Johnell Davis scored 35 points, just one short of his career high, and had nine rebounds.
“It felt like a high-level basketball game,” FAU coach Dusty May said. “This felt like a February game with the conference championship on the line.”
May should know, having last season taken the Owls on a stunning run to the Final Four. Only eight other teams seeded ninth or lower have ever made it that far.
They are showing that was no fluke, having beaten their second ranked team this season to improve to 10-2. FAU defeated then-No. 12 Texas A&M 96-89 on Nov. 24.
Giancarlo Rosado made the back end of two free throws with just under a minute remaining for what turned out to be the winning point against Arizona (9-2).
Caleb Love, who led the Wildcats with 26 points, missed a 3-pointer at the final buzzer. He was one of five Wildcats to score in double figures. Pelle Larsson was Arizona's next highest scorer with 15 points, and Oumar Ballo had 13 points and a career-high 21 rebounds.
This was the first loss in Las Vegas for Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd, who was 9-0 including back-to-back Pac-12 Conference tourney championships.
“We told our guys these are the type of teams you're going to play once you make a deep tournament run,” Lloyd said. “They're an incredible team, incredibly well-coached. That No. 1 kid (Davis) was nails and they're veterans.”
Davis nearly reached his all-time best of 36 points, which he scored against UAB on Jan. 5.
“I just try to go out there and play each game the same,” Davis said. “When we get in between the lines, just compete.”
In addition to Davis, Jalen Gaffney scored 20 points for FAU and Alijah Martin had 13.
Vladislav Goldin, who entered the game leading FAU in scoring (15.1 points per game) and rebounds (7.0) and the nation in shooting at 75.9%, was in foul trouble most of the game and picked up his fifth early in the first overtime. He finished with seven points and three rebounds.
Love put Arizona in front 73-71 with a 3-pointer with 1:09 left in regulation. FAU tied the game with 7.2 seconds remaining when Gaffney rebounded Davis' missed 3-point attempt and found Goldin alone under the basket for the dunk.
Davis' 3-footer with 10.2 seconds left put the Owls ahead 84-82 in the first overtime, and Love's two free throws with 5.9 seconds remaining sent the game to another extra session.
No. 23 Memphis 77, Vanderbilt 75 - Box Score
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) David Jones scored 28 points, including 21 in the second half, as No. 23 Memphis held on to escape with a 77-75 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday.
Jahvon Quinerly added 13 points for Memphis (10-2).
Ezra Manjon led Vanderbilt with 22 points, while Tasos Kamateros, Jason Rivera-Torres and Tyrin Lawrence scored 12 points each as Vanderbilt (4-8) dropped its fourth straight.
“I think this was a blessing how we won the game,” Memphis coach Penny Hardaway said. “It was a test. Obviously, the big games pose their own test. This did as well because you have to to muster up the energy, play the right way and dominate the game.”
The Memphis lead was a scant 75-73 when Lawrence converted a pair of Vanderbilt free throws with 13.3 seconds remaining. From there it became a free-throw shooting contest as Jones and Jaqualon Roberts both split a pair of free throws. Then Quinerly made one of two free throws and Memphis held a 77-74 advantage with 9 seconds left. Kamateros made one free throw, cutting the Memphis lead to 77-75.
Vanderbilt had a chance on the final play inbounding the ball with 3.5 seconds left. Manjon had a look at a 3-pointer, but the attempt bounced off the front of the rim, and Memphis survived for its fifth straight win.
“We were just a shot away,” Vanderbilt coach Jerry Stackhouse said. “We did everything we needed to do to give ourselves a chance, and we got it right there at the end.”
While Memphis had moved into the Top 25 with wins over Clemson and Virginia, the Vanderbilt game appeared to be less of a challenge.
“One thing I love about this team is we always find a way,” Hardaway said. “In this game, it was ugly for us.”
Memphis, which trailed at the half, ratcheted up its defensive pressure for a quick run and a lead to start the second half. When Vanderbilt caught up, the teams began exchanging advantages. Rivera-Torres kept Vanderbilt close with a trio of 3-pointers.
“We just saw what was happening,” newcomer Nae'Qwon Tomlin said of the halftime adjustments. “(Manjon) was getting in the paint, and he was scoring at will. We just tried to limit his touches.”