FAU loss to UAB extends skid to five straight defeats

Okogie sparks Georgia Tech to upset over Miami.

In their first home Conference USA test, Michael Curry’s Florida Atlantic Owls dropped their fifth consecutive game, falling 75-44 to UAB on Thursday night at FAU Arena.

FAU (6-8, 0-2) lost for the seventh time in nine games against the Blazers (10-5, 1-1), who were led by senior Chris Cokley’s game-high 24 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman guard Zack Bryant added 11 points for the Blazers.

“I think they set the tone,” Curry said. “Cokley really does set the tone for them. I think they tried to make it more difficult (on us) from an athletic standpoint.”

Only shooting 29.5 percent for the game, FAU made just three of its 23 3-point attempts. Leading scorer Gerdarius Troutman was held to seven points and went 1 of 6 from long range.

FAU’s starting five — Anthony Adger, Troutman, Jailyn Ingram, William Pfister and Ronald Delph — combined for 25 of the Owls’ 44 points. Delph had eight points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes, but committed six turnovers.

FAU’s 31-point loss is the fourth time this season the Owls have lost by at least 30 points and the third time in four games. FAU had dropped a 58-57 heartbreaker at FIU in its previous game.

The Owls return to action Saturday when they play host to Middle Tennessee at 5 p.m. at FAU Arena.

Georgia Tech 64, No. 15 Miami 54: Josh Okogie scored a season-high 30 points, Jose Alvarado added 12 points and the Yellow Jackets (7-7, 1-1 ACC) upset the Hurricanes (12-2, 1-1) late Wednesday in Atlanta.

Dewan Huell, with 13 points, was the only player to score in double figures for Miami. Anthony Lawrence and Bruce Brown each had nine points as the Hurricanes snapped a two-game winning streak.

Georgia Tech never trailed in the second half after Ben Lammers stole the ball from Lonnie Walker IV and hit a 14-footer to make it 36-32.

A 14-2 run by the Jackets made it 46-34 as Miami began the second half missing 11 of 13 shots. The Hurricanes nearly recovered, pulling within two on Chris Lykes’ two free throws with 3:47 remaining, but that was as close as they got.

Miami committed a season-high 18 turnovers.

“Some of the decisions we made were things we talked about in practice that we didn’t want to do,” Hurricanes coach Jim Larranaga said. “And yet we forced the ball several times. We never found a good offensive rhythm and a good way to attack them.”