FAU's defense clamped down late in the game, leading the Owls to a 76-70 win over UTEP in a first round game of the 2021 Air Force Reserve C-USA Men’s Basketball Championship.
Florida Atlantic (13-9) held the Miners without a field goal for 6:35 until a slam dunk at the buzzer provided the game’s final points. That defensive effort allowed the Owls to erase a two-point deficit (58-56) and go on a 20-10 run before the final dunk.
Karlis Silins led the Owls offensively, setting a new career high with 22 points. He hit 7-of-12 from the floor and was 7-of-9 from the line, while adding six rebounds.