The No. 21 Florida Atlantic Owls (20-1, 10-0 CUSA), one of the top shooting defenses in Conference USA, host the Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (11-10, 3-7 CUSA) on Saturday.
Western Kentucky was beaten by the FIU Panthers 78-69 at Ocean Bank Convocation Center on Thursday, their fourth straight loss. With 23 points, Dayvion McKnight was the top scorer in the loss. Jamarion Sharp chipped in with 15 points and three blocks.
The Hilltoppers are 10th in Conference USA. Florida Atlantic won their 19th in a row in dominant fashion on Thursday at Eleanor R. Baldwin Arena, beating the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders 85-67. Johnell Davis had 25 points, six rebounds, and five steals, leading the team. The Owls are first in Conference USA.
The teams are meeting for the final time this season. After winning the only previous season matchup against Western Kentucky 76-62 at E.A. Diddle Arena on January 16, Florida Atlantic will be pursuing a season sweep. Nick Boyd led the Owls with 16 points. McKnight had 15 points and nine rebounds in the losing effort.
The Hilltoppers have been led this season by McKnight, who is averaging 17.3 points per game. McKnight also has dished 4.0 assists per game. Meanwhile, Sharp is grabbing 6.7 rebounds. Davis and Alijah Martin have powered the Owls’ offense, averaging 12.1 and 10.5 points per game, respectively.
Vladislav Goldin is pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game, and Jalen Gaffney is doling out 2.4 assists. The Owls are holding the opposition to one of the league’s lowest FG%, ranking second at 40.2%. Western Kentucky is 3-7 in the last 10 games with an average margin of -2.7 (70.4-73.1).
For the season, the Hilltoppers are averaging 73.2 points per game, compared to 69.6 for opponents. Florida Atlantic has won each of the last 10 amid the team’s 19-game win streak, scoring 73.0 points per game on average while holding opponents to 63.8 (+9.2 margin). The Owls are averaging 77.8 ppg for the full season while allowing 63.6.
HILLTOPPERS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Jordan Rawls: 17.6 | 10.2 | +7.4
Emmanuel Akot: 4.8 | 15.0 | -10.2
Points per game:
Emmanuel Akot: 2.3 | 9.5 | -7.2
Assists per game:
Jordan Rawls: 3.4 | 2.6 | +0.8
OWLS HOT/COLD
(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Johnell Davis: 24.0 | 18.0 | +6.0
Michael Forrest: 9.0 | 13.0 | -4.0
Points per game:
Johnell Davis: 17.8 | 12.1 | +5.7
Michael Forrest: 5.8 | 8.5 | -2.7
Assists per game:
Nick Boyd: 3.0 | 2.4 | +0.6
SportsTips’ College Basketball Pick:
FAU -12.5 (-110)
Want up to a $1K risk free bet for this pick?
Claim with 
today!
If you need more news, information and predictions, head over to our college basketball hub page for all your college basketball needs!
*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.
