Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Orange Bowl hoops lineup set

- By Nate Taylor Staff writer Iliana Limón Romero contribute­d to this report.

BOCA RATON — One of the biggest games for FAU men’s basketball team next season will be played a few days before Christmas.

The Owls, who went through a disappoint­ing season last year under firstyear coach Michael Curry, will face Florida State in the Orange Bowl Basketball Classic, the bowl committee announced Tuesday. The game will be held at the BB&T Center in Sunrise on Dec. 19. The time of the game has yet to be determined. The other game in the Orange Bowl doublehead­er will be Florida versus Oklahoma State.

“Playing in the Orange Bowl Classic is a great opportunit­y to face Florida State, a quality in-state opponent, in a great venue that is within driving distance from our campus,” Curry said in a statement. “It gives our fans another chance to see us play without having to travel very far. It’s a winwin for the FAU program.”

The game will be the fifth meeting between the schools. The Seminoles, who went 17-16 last season, have won each of the previous four games. FAU played in the Orange Bowl Classic in 2009 and 2011. During both games, the Owls lost to the Miami Hurricanes.

Last season, FAU played against five in-state schools: Warner, Ave Maria, Jacksonvil­le, UCF and Conference USA rival FIU. But the last time the Owls played Miami, Florida and Florida State was 2011 when FAU fell to the Hurricanes 93-90 in double overtime.

Curry is hoping the Owls will perform better on the court after posting a 9-20 season last year.

“It’s up to me to bring on some additional talent to the table so we can grow,” Curry said before the season finale in March.

UF donation

New Florida coach Jim McElwain recently donated $5,000 to help one of his former players at Colorado State pay for funeral services.

Ex-Rams defensive lineman Eli Edwards’ wife died while receiving treatment for lupus in New Zealand. To help cover the costs of the family’s return to the United States and a funeral, the athlete set up a GoFundMe page.

The Coloradoan reported the largest gift he received was $5,000 from MacFam LLC, which is operated by McElwain and his wife.

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