Wednesday night on their home floor, Florida Atlantic fell short against Dayton 86-79 in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament in Boca Raton, Florida.
Florida Atlantic lost to Dayton, closing the season for the Owls. It was an intense game from the jump. Both teams performed sharply and put forth their A-game.
The Owls’ offense showed significant improvement, using aggressive drives to the rim and sharp ball movement to break through the Flyers defense.
Forward sophomore Kaleb Glenn led the Owls with 18 points, with junior forward Baba Miller adding 16.
“During the season the coaches have allowed me to be one of the guys that are involved in the action, offensively and defensively,” Miller said.
Ultimately, the Flyers took control in the second half by consecutively sinking it in from beyond the arc. Although the Owls finished strong, their comeback effort came too late, as time ran out before they could close the gap.
“I love basketball, and I want to keep going. I don’t want to shy away from challenges,” said Florida Atlantic head coach John Jakus. “I’m thankful for this challenge.”
The Owls experienced a rollercoaster season, adapting and growing with a new team and coach, which gave Florida Atlantic a fresh identity. Under Jakus and his coaching staff, both individual development and team play have demonstrated significant growth.
“We really thought that we could be a family, so we’ve really doubled down on the idea that we’re going to try to keep as many guys together as we can,” Jakus said. “We want FAU to be a place people stay.”
As a first-time head coach, Jakus aims to build a close-knit team that leaves a lasting impact on his players. With the transfer portal opening on Monday, Florida Atlantic will likely welcome some new talent.
“People trust us from our past, and our success. I think there’s two things that recruit players right now — one is NIL money and two is other players. They’ll come if their friends are here, or if they have a good reference, and the money is here,” Jakus said.
In the meantime, the offseason will serve as a time for reflection — and recognition of how far the Owls have come. Jakus noted that this year’s success will be a springboard for the team’s offseason development.
