BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Greg Gantt scored 23 points, and Florida Atlantic held off Louisiana-Lafayette’s second-half comeback to claim a 75-70 victory on Thursday night in a Sun Belt Conference game.
Stefan Moody had 16 points and nine rebounds for the Owls (6-6, 3-2), and Pablo Bertone scored 12.
Elfrid Payton led the Ragin’ Cajuns (6-10, 2-3) with 23 points, Shawn Long had 22 points and nine rebounds, and Bryant Mbamalu scored 17 points.
The Owls led 39-27 at halftime and 65-56 with 7:31 to go on Moody’s two free throws, but Louisiana-Lafayette began closing. The Ragin’ Cajuns cut it to 69-65 with 3:11 remaining on Bryant’s pair of free throws but could draw no closer.
Florida Atlantic shot 85.7 percent from the free-throw line (18 of 21), including 14 of 17 in the second half, while Louisiana-Lafayette made only 52.4 percent (11 of 21).
