Johnell Davis notched 19 of his game-high 30 points in the first half to lift No. 24 Florida Atlantic to an 86-73 win over UAB on Sunday afternoon in Boca Raton, Fla.
Davis made 10 of 16 shots from the floor and 5 of 6 from 3-point range. He sank all five of his free throws and collected eight rebounds.
Davis slipped on a layup and hurt his left ankle with just more than a minute to play, but he told reporters after the game that he was fine.
The Owls (13-4, 3-1 American) received 18 points from Vladislav Goldin, while Jalen Gaffney had 10 points, seven rebounds and four assists.
Giancarlo Rosado, a 6-foot-8 backup to the 7-foot-1 Goldin, was injured in the first half and did not return.
The Blazers (10-6, 2-1) saw their six-game winning streak come to an end after shooting 39.4 percent from the floor (28 of 71).
Efrem Johnson and Eric Gaines had 13 points apiece and Daniel Ortiz added 10 for UAB.
In the opening half, Davis hit a pair of 3-pointers and scored the host’s first 10 points on the way to a 14-8 lead at 14:30.
As UAB got caught in two lengthy scoring droughts, the Owls grew their advantage to 32-18 following Davis’ left-handed layup at 4:24.
FAU created sizable separation from the visitors by holding them without a field goal for 4:03.
The Owls ended the half on Goldin’s dunk to take a 43-24 halftime lead.
FAU closed out the half with a 21-8 run in the final 7:32.
In his hot half, Davis went 6-for-9 from the field, making all but one of his four tries from long range as the Owls shot 51.5 percent (17-for-33) and canned all five free throws.
The frequent shooting dry runs caused the Blazers to manage only 31.3 percent from the floor (10 of 32).
In the second half, UAB went into the bonus with 8:52 left and trimmed the deficit to eight at 4:44 but could get no closer.
FAU was outscored 49-43 in the frame but won for the third time in four games overall and the fourth time in its past seven matchups with the Blazers.
–Field Level Media