In a hard-fought matchup, the FAU Owls fell short to the Northwestern Wildcats in the first round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, losing 77-65 in overtime. Despite a valiant effort to come back in the second half, FAU struggled with turnovers, committing 21 in the game. Vladislav Goldin led the Owls with 19 points and nine rebounds, while Johnell Davis contributed 18 points, six rebounds, and two assists.
Northwestern took control in overtime, going on a 12-1 run to secure the victory. Ryan Langborg was a standout performer for the Wildcats, scoring 27 points and dishing out three assists. With this loss, FAU’s season comes to an end with a 25-9 record, while Northwestern advances to the second round of the tournament as the No. 9 seed in the East region with a 22-11 record.
This defeat may sting even more for FAU as there are three seniors on this year’s team, compared to just one last season. Jalen Gaffney, one of the seniors, expressed his gratitude for his time at FAU after transferring from UCONN a few years ago. Emotions ran high for the team, especially for the seniors, as they reflected on their journey and the bonds they formed throughout the season.
Despite the disappointment of this loss, the Owls can look back on their impressive run in the tournament over the past two years. This defeat marks FIU’s first double-digit loss since November 2022, highlighting the team’s competitiveness and resilience.
For more in-depth sports coverage and updates, stay tuned to WPBF 25 News and download the WPBF 25 News app for the latest news and updates. While this loss may be tough to swallow, the Owls can take pride in their performance and look forward to what the future holds for the team.
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