Miami basketball tries to win second in a row vs FAU

After winning their first game in nearly a month on Wednesday against Houston Baptist the Miami basketball team hosts Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon at the Watsco Center.

The Miami basketball team continues to play shorthanded after it was announced that center-forward Deng Gak would miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury. Without center-forward Dewan Hernandez who’s eligibility is in question and Rodney Miller who is redshirting, Miami is extremely thin up front.

The Hurricanes need starting center Ebuka Izundu to stay out of foul trouble to be competitive this season, especially if Hernandez doesn’t return. Izundu is averaging 12.3 points per game, 9.0 rebounds and 2.3 blocks, but also committing an average of 3.1 fouls per game.

The Miami basketball team has spread their scoring around this season. They are currently the only ACC team with five players averaging in double figures. Sophomore point guard Chris Lykes leads the Hurricanes with 16.7 PPG and 3.6 assists per game and is tied for the team lead with 1.6 steals per game.

Junior guard Dejan Vasikjevic is Miami’s third-leading scorer at 13.1 PPG. Vasiljeic has been the Hurricanes best three-point shooter making more than three per game and connecting on 43.7 percent of his three-point attempts.

Miami has dominated the rivalry with Florida Atlantic. The Hurricanes have defeated the Owls in 19 of their 20 meetings. Florida Atlantic’s only victory came in December 2002, 74-73 in overtime in Boca Raton.

The Owls are 8-3 this season under first-year Head Coach Dusty May. May was a team manager at Indiana under Bob Knight in the late 1990s. He replaced former NBA Player and Head Coach Michael Curry who FAU fired after four seasons last spring.

FAU will be without their best player, 6’7 Junior forward Jailyn Ingram for the remainder of the season. Ingram tore his ACL against Arkansas State on December 14. Saturday’s game against Miami is the Owls first game against Division I team without their star player. FAU defeated Florida College Wednesday night.

Ingram leads the Owls with 18.9 PPG and 8.2 RPG. He is an exceptional shooter. He makes 57.6 percent of his shots from the floor, 42.5 percent of his three-point attempts and 61.5 percent of his shots inside the arc. Guard Anthony Adger and forward Xavian Stapleton are the only other Owls that average in double figures.

"GAME 11 • DEC. 22, 2018 • 2 P.M. • CORAL GABLES, FLA.FLORIDA ATLANTIC OWLS (8-3)Head Coach: Dusty May (Indiana, ‘00)Record at FAU: 8-3 (1st season), Career Record: 8-3 (1st season)MIAMI HURRICANES (6-4)Head Coach: Jim Larrañaga (Providence, ‘71)Record at UM: 167-83 (8th season), Career Record: 637-417 (35th season)Team Information courtesy of HurricaneSports.Com"

Broadcast Information (Courtesy of HurricaneSports.Com)

"Date/Time: Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018/2 p.m.Location: Coral Gables, Fla./Watsco Center (7,972)Television: None; Online: ACC Network ExtraPlay-by-Play: Alex Schwartz, Color: Mike GillianRadio: WQAM 560 AM (PxP: Joe Zagacki)Satellite Radio: XM 382, XM Internet 973Series vs. FAU: Miami leads, 22-1Home: 14-0 | Road: 5-1 | Neutral: 3-0"

The game will not be available on traditional television. The only telecast will be streaming via ACC Network extra. This is a game that will likely be on the ACC Network next season.

Miami finishes up the non-conference part of their schedule by hosting Campbell after a week off on December 29. The will begin ACC play January 3 against North Carolina State at the Watsco Center.