By AJ Johnson
It’s a new season for the FAU Owls. But the vibe from last year’s Final Four run lives on in Boca Raton.
The game was over early as FAU got an alley-oop dunk from Goldin 6 seconds after he won the opening tip-off, and the Owls began the night 8 of 9 from the field on their way to a 20-5 lead just 5 minutes into the game. They were up 51-28 at the half.
Vladislav Goldin scored 19 points, Brandon Weatherspoon was six for six shooting to finish with 16 points and No. 10 Florida Atlantic cruised past Eastern Michigan 100-57 on Tuesday night.
Giancarlo Rosado and Brenen Lorient both chipped in 13 points for the Owls (2-0), who were playing for the first time with last season’s Final Four banner hanging over the court. FAU stretched the nation’s second-longest home winning streak to 19 games while shooting 63% on the way to finishing with six players in double figures.
Students started camping out Monday night outside the Baldwin arena, arriving almost 24 hours before game time to get their seat. They remembered all the chants and waves, sang along with Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the U.S.A.
“It was awesome to see the guys and ladies camped out and for this to be a big deal,” said Owls coach Dusty May, who brought those overnight-camping students doughnuts and T-shirts Tuesday morning to thank them for the commitment. “Our guys deserve for this to be a big deal.”
