Dec. 29, 2002

Florida Atlantic University concludes in California swing, December 30, as the Owls take on UC-Irvine in Irvine, CA. The game is scheduled to start at 10:35pm EST at the Bren Events Center and can be heard live on WLVJ 1040-AM and www.fausports.com.

FAU (4-7) is looking to snap a season-long four-game losing streak. The Owls are coming off a 91-75 loss Saturday night at San Diego State. Chris Thomas led FAU with 19 points in that game while Earnest Crumbley and Jeff Cowans each scored 13.

Crumbley leads the team with 17.2 points per game. Cowans is tossing in 14.7 while Thomas, in three games, is averaging 10.7.

UC-Irvine (5-3) enters the game as a winner of five of its past six games after starting the season 0-2. It's only loss during the stretch was an 84-57 setback at Stanford. The Anteaters defeated IPFW, 96-79, Saturday night at home. FAU also defeated IPFW, 93-86 in double overtime, November 19 in Ft. Collins, CO. UC-Irvine is led by junior center Adam Parada, who is averaging 11.4 points per game.

This is the first meeting between the two schools. The game also marks the final regular season non-conference game for FAU, which opens Atlantic Sun Conference play January 4 at Central Florida. With Saturday's game at San Diego State, FAU has now played in four time zones this season.