Florida Atlantic outlasts IPFW in double overtime
Jeff Cowans scores 20 points for Owls who finish 2-1 at Dell™ BCA Invitational

Box Score

FORT COLLINS, Colo. -- Earnest Crumbley scored six of his 24 points in the second overtime and Jeff Cowans added 20 points as Florida Atlantic outlasted IPFW 93-86 in the Dell™ BCA Invitational on Tuesday night.

Cowans, who tied the game with a three-pointer at the end of the first overtime, gave Florida Atlantic (2-1) an 88-86 lead with 43 seconds left in the second overtime. IPFW (0-3) missed its last three shots while Crumbley went 4-of-6 from the free throw line.

"We had a well played game due to our unity, family, style of play and our conditioning -- mental as well as physical,” said Florida Atlantic head coach Sidney Green. "Our biggest challenge in the tournament was playing with the adversity of a short-handed team. We only brought nine players on the trip, but we came together as one.

"Bottom line -- we willed this game.”

Two free throws by Cowans with seven seconds left in regulation put Florida Atlantic ahead 68-65. Terry Collins, who led IPFW with 21 points, split a double-team and beat the buzzer with a tying three-pointer to send the game into overtime.

IPFW blew a double-digit lead in the second half. DeAngelo Woodall's two free throws had given IPFW a 48-35 lead six minutes into the second half, but Crumbley hit consecutive three-pointers and Drew Skeeter made a layup to put Florida Atlantic ahead 62-60.

"We work extremely hard, enjoy each other's company. We have a good group of guys, but we are struggling through some growing pains of a young team.” said IPFW head coach Doug Noll. "At this stage, we are going to focus on one game at a time. It is a process of crawling, walking and running. We are at the crawling stage.”

IPFW broke an 18-18 tie with a 12-1 run keyed by three-pointers by Jim Kessenich and Tyler Clevenger. Crumbley hit two three-pointers as Florida Atlantic closed the half with an 8-0 run to get within 30-27.