That pretty much sums up the trip. And it cost UALR any shot at the
West Division championship.
What’s worse is that UALR is now in a fight just to get a first-round
bye. The Trojans can still finish as high as fourth or could fall as far as
seventh by failing to eliminate FAU from that consideration on Saturday night.
BURN UNIT
UALR had won three consecutive games going into a Feb. 2 game against
South Alabama. In the first half of that game, sophomore Taggart Lockhart
suffered a concussion. UALR went on to lose that game to South Alabama.
Lockhart missed the Feb. 7 victory at ULM and returned for the Feb. 14 game
against Arkansas State. But he was concussed again during that loss. He hasn’t
played in the past three games, all losses. That makes 5 of 6 games that were
losses since Lockhart’s injury.
STAT OF THE GAME
55.2 percent: Florida Atlantic shot 55.2 percent in the second half. It
allowed the Owls’ to pull away from UALR.
BTH KEYS
Set the Mood: Stopping FAU’s Stefan Moody was a key. He finished with
25 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a blocked shot. Grade: F.
We like Mike: UALR needed to get Michael Javes involved. They did, but
it was far too late. His foul trouble – and technical foul – didn’t help
matters. Javes finished with 5 points and 6 rebounds before fouling out. Grade:
F.
Through the hoop: UALR needed to shoot 40 percent and didn’t come
close. The Trojans shot 31.3 percent in the first half and 35.5 percent in the
second half. That combined for 33.3 percent. Grade: F.
THE GOOD
UALR had only 5 turnovers. That’s remarkable.
THE BAD
UALR again got outrebounded by a smaller team. This time 40-37.
THE UGLY
UALR made just 5 of 35 three-point shots on the Florida trip.
VEGAS, BABY
FAU was the favorite and they easily covered.
PREDICTIONS
Everyone picked FAU.
UP NEXT
UALR hosts Louisiana-Lafayette on Thursday at the Stephens Center.
