Sunday, March 9th, 7:30 p.m. (et).

FACTS & STATS: Site: The Mitchell Center (10,000) -- Mobile, Alabama. Television: Local. Home Record: FAU 11-4, UALR 13-3. Away Record: FAU 3-11, UALR 6-7. Neutral Record: FAU 1-2, UALR 0-0. Conference Record: FAU 8-10, UALR 11-7. Series Record: Series is tied, 1-1.

GAME NOTES: The quarterfinals of the 32nd annual Sun Belt Conference Tournament carry on tonight as the Arkansas-Little Rock Trojans contend against the Florida Atlantic Owls at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Alabama. Slated as the second seed in the event, UALR earned a bye through the first round of action after going 11-7 in conference play this season. The Trojans finished the regular season with a flurry, capturing four straight wins, including a 59-55 decision in the finale eight days ago versus UL-Monroe on the road. Of all the teams in the Sun Belt yet to win a conference tournament title, the Trojans have the most wins with 14 in 30 opportunities over the years. As for the Owls, seeded seventh in the event, they advanced after defeating Florida International on Wednesday in a 91-64 decision. The win was just the second in three chances in the tournament all-time. With respect to the all-time series between these two schools on the hardwood, each team has beaten the other once heading into this contest.

FAU's offense was explosive in the first half earlier this week versus the Golden Panthers, with a total of five players scoring in double figures in the win. Carderro Nwoji posted a team-best 20 points on 5-of-6 shooting behind the three-point line, but it was Carlos Monroe and his 16 points and 14 rebounds that made an even bigger impact. Reserves Jeff Parmer and Paul Graham both added 12 points and Sanchez Hughley 11, to go along with five assists and five rebounds. Monroe leads the team in both scoring and rebounding this season with averages of 15.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per outing, and while he has done well to make 52.3 percent of his field goal attempts, Monroe's 54.6 percent effort at the free-throw line is less than acceptable. Graham and Nwoji account for 13.9 and 10.8 ppg, respectively, for a team that is generating 72.1 ppg this year.

After making just nine field goals in the first half, hitting a mere 1-of-9 behind the three-point line, the Trojans turned up the pressure and converted 57.9 percent from the floor in the second half to secure the four-point win last Saturday. Shane Edwards and John Fowler had to settle for being the top scorers on the squad with 10 points apiece. Through 29 games the Trojans have failed to list a single double-digit scorer that they can rely on from one game to the next. Steven Moore is at the top of the scoring list with a scant 9.6 ppg, but it might be his team-best 99 assists that actually make him so valuable. For a squad like UALR that is producing only 65.6 ppg, it is important that the defense come out and make a strong statement, as it has by limiting foes to only 40.4 percent from the field and 28.9 percent beyond the arc.

It may not be all that important for the Trojans to have a powerful offense, at least not in this round of the tournament and against this particular opponent.

Predicted Outcome

Arkansas-Little Rock 68, Florida Atlantic 57