BOCA RATON, Fla. (Interstat) — Florida Atlantic used a dominant second half to defeat Memphis 89-78 in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at FAU Gymnasium. The Owls, who trailed 34-36 at halftime, outscored the Tigers 53-44 after intermission. Devin Vanterpool led Florida Atlantic with 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Aaron Bradshaw scored a game-high 21 points for Memphis. Florida Atlantic improved to 11-6. Memphis fell to 7-8. An announced crowd of 3,161 attended.

BOCA RATON, Fla. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a dominant second-half surge, Florida Atlantic pulled away from Memphis for an 89-78 victory in an American Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Sunday at FAU Gymnasium. The Owls, who led by just two points at halftime, outscored the Tigers 53-44 after the break, leveraging superior efficiency and a formidable interior presence to secure their 11th win of the season. Memphis fell to 7-8. The most critical sequence of the game unfolded early in the second half, transforming a narrow contest into a commanding Florida Atlantic lead. After taking a 36-34 edge into the locker room, the Owls erupted with a 15-4 run over the first four minutes and 24 seconds of the final period. The burst was fueled by relentless attacks in the paint and transition, with Xander Pintelon scoring seven quick points, including a three-point play, and Kanaan Carlyle adding four. The run gave Florida Atlantic a 51-38 advantage, a deficit from which Memphis never recovered, as the Tigers could not cut the lead to single digits again. Florida Atlantic’s victory was anchored by a complete performance from guard Devin Vanterpool. The Laurel, Maryland, native filled the stat sheet with 12 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists, orchestrating the offense and controlling the glass. His backcourt mate, Kanaan Carlyle of Atlanta, led all scorers with 17 points. The Owls’ defense, spearheaded by 7-foot-1 center Devin Williams, was equally pivotal. Williams, from Riverside, California, recorded a staggering seven blocked shots to go with 12 points and six rebounds, altering countless Memphis attempts near the rim. Pintelon, from Bruges, Belgium, contributed 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks, while Niccolo Moretti of Bologna, Italy, chipped in nine points off the bench. Memphis was led by a standout effort from center Aaron Bradshaw. The 7-foot-1 sophomore from Rahway, New Jersey, scored a team-high 21 points on 9-of-15 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and grabbed five rebounds. Guard Dug McDaniel of Washington, D.C., added 12 points and four assists, and Quante Berry of Cleveland, Tennessee, provided a spark off the bench with nine points. Despite shooting respectably from three-point range, making 12 of 28 attempts, Memphis was undone by Florida Atlantic’s efficiency and rebounding. The Owls shot 50.7% from the field overall and won the battle on the offensive glass 13-5, leading to a 38-32 advantage in points in the paint. Florida Atlantic also capitalized in transition, outscoring Memphis 20-12 on fast breaks. The teams were nearly even in possessions, each with 79, but Florida Atlantic’s offensive rating of 113.2 dwarfed Memphis’s 99.2, underscoring the Owls’ more effective shot creation and execution. Both teams struggled with ball security, combining for 29 turnovers, but Florida Atlantic’s defense, which tallied nine blocks and eight steals, proved more disruptive at critical moments. The game began inauspiciously with a series of early turnovers before Bradshaw scored the first points on a layup. The first half was a back-and-forth affair featuring 10 lead changes and six ties, with neither team leading by more than five points. Memphis took its final lead at 34-33 on a Bradshaw 3-pointer with 30 seconds left before halftime, but Florida Atlantic’s Isaiah Elohim answered with a three of his own to send the Owls into the break ahead. The second half, however, belonged entirely to Florida Atlantic from the opening tip. The decisive run established control, and the Owls maintained a double-digit cushion for nearly the entire remainder of the game, leading by as many as 17 points. Florida Atlantic improved to 11-6 overall and evened its conference record. Memphis dropped to 7-8. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Memphis on Jan. 29. The Owls next host Wichita State on Thursday. Memphis returns home to face Temple on Wednesday.

Preview: Memphis Tigers at Florida Atlantic Owls BOCA RATON, Fla. (Interstat) — A pivotal early American Athletic Conference clash awaits Sunday when the Florida Atlantic Owls host the Memphis Tigers at FAU Gymnasium. The Owls (10-6, 1-1 AAC) look to build momentum after a hard-fought 76-71 road win at UAB on Wednesday. Guard Kanaan Carlyle was instrumental in that victory, scoring a game-high 25 points. The transfer has been a dynamic scorer for FAU, averaging 16.2 points over his last five games, including a 25-point outburst at UAB and 16 in a 110-70 rout of Texas-San Antonio. Memphis (7-7, 1-0) arrives after a long layoff, having not played since a 76-70 conference-opening win at Rice on Jan. 3. The Tigers have shown volatility, with impressive wins over Baylor and North Texas but also lopsided losses to Louisville and Mississippi State. The matchup features a compelling duel at guard. Memphis is led by Dug McDaniel, who is averaging 15.3 points and 4.2 assists over his last six contests. He posted 18 points, six rebounds and four assists in the win at Rice. His playmaking will be critical for a Tigers squad seeking consistency. For Florida Atlantic, balance beyond Carlyle will be key. Devin Vanterpool (19 points vs. UAB) and Isaiah Elohim (16 points vs. UAB) provide supplemental scoring. The Owls have been strong at home, boasting a 6-1 record in Boca Raton this season, with the lone loss coming to George Mason in November. Memphis will need production from its frontcourt, including center Aaron Bradshaw, who had 12 points against Rice, to counter FAU’s perimeter attack. This game begins a key home stretch for the Owls before a difficult run of road games. For the Tigers, it represents a chance to secure a quality road win and climb above .500 as conference play intensifies. The teams will meet again in Memphis on Jan. 29. Tip-off is scheduled for Sunday afternoon.