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Canisius University Athletics

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Jalanni White
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59
Canisius CAN 4-4
62
Winner Florida Atlantic FAU 5-4
Canisius CAN
4-4
59
Final
62
Florida Atlantic FAU
5-4
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Canisius CAN 37 22 59
Florida Atlantic FAU 39 23 62

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Late Rally for Men’s Basketball Comes Up Short at FAU

Game Recap
Florida Atlantic's Karlin Sillins scored eight of his game-high 15 points in the second half, with five of those coming in the game's final 3:32, and a late chance to win the game for Canisius came up short, as the host Owls scored a 62-59 win over the Golden Griffins Wednesday night in the Blue and Gold's final on-campus game in the Boca Raton Beach Classic.
 
The win moves FAU to 5-4 on the season, while Canisius fell to 4-4 with its second-straight loss.
 
In a game that featured 10 ties and 19 lead changes, FAU took a six-point lead at 59-53 with 3:32 left on the clock after Sillins drained a pair of free-throws. FAU's lead remained at six points after Canisius' Malik Johnson and Sillins traded field goals, but the Griffs kept battling and trailed by four with 48 seconds left to play after freshman Armon Harried and Johnson each made a free-throw 49 seconds apart to make the score 61-57. Johnson then got the Blue and Gold within two points at 61-59 with 38 seconds after FAU turned the ball over at mid-court.
 
Canisius fouled FAU on the Owls ensuing possession, and after the home team missed both free-throws, the Owls were able to grab the offensive rebound, but Harried came up with a steal and Canisius called a timeout with 12.7 seconds left to play. Out of the timeout, Johnson's 3-point try banged off the side of the iron and the ball was rebounded by Sillins, who was promptly fouled with four seconds left to play. He made 1-of-2 free-throws to seal the victory for FAU.
 
Johnson and junior Jalanni White each scored 12 points in the losing effort as Canisius shot 38.2 percent and just 6.3 percent from 3-point land, making 1-of-16 tries from behind the arc. Juniors Majesty Brandon and Scott Hitchon had eight points apiece while Harried added six points, a team-high six rebounds and three steals.
 
For FAU, Sillins added seven rebounds to his 15-point effort while teammate Kenan Blackshear scored nine points to go with seven rebounds and two assists. The Owls shot 37.9 percent from the floor and 30 percent from 3-point land for the game, and the home team out-rebounded the Griffs by a 41-37 count.
 
Head Coach Reggie Witherspoon's Postgame Comments
"In a game like this where both teams are struggling to shoot it and score consistently, you have to grab loose balls and secure rebounds when you get your hands on the ball. We didn't do that when we had our chances and it certainly cost us tonight."
 
"We had some basic plays in the second half that we didn't convert on, and then we ended up making bad choices and it resulted in turnovers. We need to learn to play tough and with intensity on every possession. You can't pick and choose when you're going to go hard. It needs to be a full, 40-minute effort."
 
Game Notes
• This was the first meeting between Canisius and FAU.
• The Griffs' last two losses (vs. Hofstra and at FAU) have come by a total of 10 points.
• Canisius was credited with 11 steals on Wednesday. The Griffs have five-or-more steals as a team in all eight games this season.
• Johnson has now scored in double-figures six times this season and 37 times in his career.
• Hitchon made six free-throws in the losing effort for the Griffs, which stands as a season high.

Up Next
Canisius will have the next 10 days off for final exams before returning to action Saturday, Dec. 14, at home when the Blue and Gold hosts Holy Cross. Tip-off in the Koessler Athletic Center is set for 2 p.m. That game will be broadcast live on ESPN+, and the radio call will be available through WECK Buffalo Radio (1230-AM, 100.5-FM and 102.9-FM).
 
For complete coverage of Canisius men's basketball, please follow the Griffs on social media at @Griffs_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
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