Florida Atlantic learns from Bryant loss, dominates Virginia Tech in ESPN tournament final

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Nov 26, 2023; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls head coach Dusty May is presented the ESPN Events Invitational Championship trophy after beating the Virginia Tech Hokies at State Farm Field House. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

LAKE BUENA VISTA — Vladislav Goldin was walking off the court wearing Mickey Mouse ears inscribed with “champion” on the back.

Florida Atlantic’s emerging star center was asked if he’d cherish those ears like a trophy.

“Ahhh, not quite,” he said. “But I’ll still save them.”

That trophy, for winning the ESPN Events Invitational Sunday and taking another step on this remarkable journey that has thrusted the Owls from a completely irrelevant basketball program to one now on the national conscious, will go on a shelf in Boca Raton. It’ll be somewhere near the other two won the last nine months as champions of the Conference USA tournament and the NCAA East Regional.

Though not as significant, walking away from the Magic Kingdom Sunday as the Happiest Team on Earth — at least among the eight who played in this tournament — showed coach Dusty May just how much this veteran team continues to learn and grow.

FAU’s 84-50 domination of Virginia Tech gives the Owls convincing wins over the ACC and SEC in the final two games of this tournament.

On Friday, No. 19 FAU led No. 12 Texas A&M by as many as 18 in a 96-89 victory. Sunday’s final included as good a stretch of basketball FAU has played, maybe even including last year. The Owls turned a 19-0 run at the end of the first half and the start of the second half into a complete domination.

Alijah Martin earns tournament MVP honors

Tournament MVP Alijah Martin’s 17 points and eight rebounds, and Goldin’s 14 points on 7-of-7 shooting, and a defense that forced Virginia Tech into missing its first 15 3-point attempts (and finish 2 of 17) were the most significant determining factors in FAU’s win.

Nov 26, 2023; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls guard Alijah Martin (15) is presented the MVP…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/florida-atlantic-learns-bryant-loss-224253721.html

Author : Palm Beach Daily News

Publish date : 2023-11-26 22:42:53

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