After winning five consecutive games in a row, Florida Atlantic took a loss to Wichita State (16-10,6-7) on Thursday on its home floor, 86-75.
The Owls (15-11, 8-5 AAC) had a slow start in the first half, allowing Wichita State to take control with aggressive drives and shots from beyond the arc.
“We are disappointed that we did not hold up our end of the bargain. Wichita State did a good job of kicking us out of transition,” said Florida Atlantic head coach John Jakus
It was an off night for the Owls shooting-wise, shooting 34% from the field and 33% from the free-throw line.
“They missed a couple of 3s instead of driving the basketball, they just kept taking more,” said Jakus.
Redshirt sophomore guard Niccolo Moretti and sophomore forward Kaleb Glenn were the highlights of the first half. Both provided contagious energy off the bench, helping to elevate the Owls’ pace to match Wichita State’s speed of play.Â
Moretti sparked the game from the bench with aggressive drives to the basket, leading him to have five straight points.
Sophomore forward Kaleb Glenn recorded 16 points and went 6-for-9 shooting. From the jump, he played with an aggressive mindset.
The Owls cut the lead from 14 points to eight, ending the half 34-26.
The Owls came into the second half with more intensity than the first, igniting their offensive with plays by the rim.
Junior guard Leland Walker recorded 11 points for the Owls. In the second half, he knocked in two 3s.
“Staying confident in my teammates telling me to shoot it, just making sure I stay confident,” said Walker.
The Owls showed great intensity towards the end of the game, but their missed 3-pointers and free throws put them at a disadvantage. Wichita State responded by attacking more aggressively on both ends of the floor.
“When it came to the overall tempo and aggression from us, it wasn’t good enough,” said Jakus. “The lack of effort rebounding-wise is not acceptable.”
