Florida Atlantic secured a crucial American Athletic Conference victory on Monday night, defeating Charlotte 87-75 behind a strong bench performance from freshman forward Kaleb Glenn. Glenn led the Owls (14-10, 7-4 AAC) with 18 points and six rebounds, helping FAU maintain its position in the upper half of the conference standings.
Graduate guard KyKy Tandy provided a deep shooting threat, knocking down five three-pointers on his way to a 17-point performance. Baba Miller filled the stat sheet with 14 points, six rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. Tre Carroll added 13 points, scoring 11 of them in the second half to help FAU close out the victory.
The game was tightly contested early, with both teams shooting 50% from the field and neither holding more than a four-point advantage through the opening 10 minutes. Tandy then sparked a momentum shift, hitting three consecutive three-pointers to push FAU ahead for good.
A 13-0 Owls run late in the first half, highlighted by Glenn’s powerful two-handed dunk and multiple defensive rejections, gave FAU its first double-digit lead of the night. At the break, the Owls held a 46-37 advantage, with Miller leading the team in scoring at that point with 10 points.
The Owls carried their momentum into the second half, stretching their lead to 73-55 thanks to a 7-0 run fueled by inside scoring from Glenn and freshman center Matas Vokietaitis. Carroll stepped up late, hitting five of six shots in the final period to keep the 49ers at bay.
Charlotte (9-16, 2-10 AAC) was led by Robert Braswell, who scored a game-high 20 points, while Nik Graves contributed 18 points, seven rebounds, and two steals. Despite their efforts, the 49ers were unable to slow down FAU’s balanced offensive attack.
With another key win under their belt, the Owls will enjoy a brief break before traveling to Philadelphia for a matchup against Temple (14-10, 6-5 AAC) on Sunday, Feb. 16. Tip-off is set for 12 p.m. ET, with the game airing on ESPN2.
