Florida Atlantic (5-2) was in the Final Four in 2023, but that was Dusty May, who has since moved on to Michigan.
The guy who replaced him, John Jakus, was 18-16 in Year 1, last year, and even with a victory over Boston College in the season opener, this isn’t Dusty May FAU.
The Patriots led by as many as 19 in the second half; credit to the Owls, who got the margin down to three by holding Mason to a single bucket over a 10-minute stretch.
A Jahari Long layup with 38 seconds to go pushed the lead back to five, and the Patriots closed the game out at the line.
“When watching film of FAU, they looked like a high major team,” Mason coach Tony Skinn said. “I thought their physicality and pace would fluster us. But these guys took the scout on the head and in those first four minutes, we showed our teeth and showed our Patriot Pressure. It set the tone for the game. I was proud of our approach and our intensity level. FAU willed their way back, but our poise carried us through.”
Tournament MVP Kory Mincy led the Patriots with a team-high 22 points (7-of-12 FG, 3-of-5 3FG) and five assists, including a pair of clutch free throws late to ice the game for the Green & Gold.
Long added 21 points (7-of-11 FG, 4-of-5 3FG).
The Patriots now return home for the program’s 102nd all-time meeting with Commonwealth rival James Madison (5-3), which travels to Fairfax for a 2 p.m. Saturday tip.
The game will be broadcast regionally on Monumental Sports Network and streamed nationally on ESPN+.
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Chris Graham
