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FAU basketball: Owls frustrated with loss to San Diego State but vow to return next season

HOUSTON — It couldn’t have ended in more heartbreaking fashion, Florida Atlantic falling to San Diego State Saturday night right at the buzzer, 72-71.

There’s no doubt that the team and fans will be left frustrated as the Owls held a 14-point lead with under 15 minutes left in the game, all to be shrunken as time went on.

The Aztecs completed the third-largest comeback in national semifinals history and fifth largest in a Final Four.

After SDSU’s Lamont Butler scored at the buzzer, Owls head coach Dusty May sat with his hands on his knees for an extended period of time. He said that the tough pill to swallow in this scenario is that long-time FAU player Michael Forrest won’t be on the team next season.

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“Mike Forrest isn't going to be in our locker room, a guy that gave a lot to this university, has an engineering degree. He's a champion, Final Four participant, and he's not going to be with us anymore,” May said. “So each season there's change. That's the hardest part. But the only sadness is just that we don't get to do it again tomorrow. The NCAA makes us take a couple of weeks off to regroup, and we'll get back to work again.”

When May was hired in 2018, Forrest was actually the 46-year-old head coach’s first recruit. The senior said that he thought they were going to get the stop on Butler, but said he can “live with it.”

Apr 1, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls guard Bryan Greenlee (4) leaves the court after losing to the San Diego State Aztecs in the semifinals of the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 1, 2023; Houston, TX, USA; Florida Atlantic Owls guard Bryan Greenlee (4) leaves the court after losing to the San Diego State Aztecs in the semifinals of the Final Four of the 2023 NCAA Tournament at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Playing in his final game, even though it didn’t end in a national championship, he’s proud to have been teammates with this squad.

“We’re definitely bonded for life. This isn’t just an on-the-court thing. Off the court, we’re brothers,” Forrest said. “We’re a big family and I love each and every one of these guys.”

Redshirt freshman Nick Boyd called the moment “bittersweet,” but said that it’ll serve as motivation to get back to work.

“I'm not dwelling on it much," Boyd said. "I'm happy for our team. I mean, we put FAU on the map. When I came to this school and I committed here, I said this is what we're going to do.

"All I can do is smile and be appreciative of the run we went on and know next year, you're going to hear it from FAU again. You're going to see us in the same position, and it's going to be a different outcome, I promise you.”

Boyd scored the game-winner against Memphis in the first win of the tournament, and he was the defender that Butler scored against to win the game.

Martin scores game-high 26 but 'devastated' by the loss

If there could be a bright side, sophomore Alijah Martin had a standout game as he scored a game-high 26 points and collected seven rebounds.

He said the abrupt ending to the season was “devastating.”

"Just thinking and just knowing that our season's over," Martin said. "We had fun. Even if we were going to win the national championship, we were going to look forward to another game. That's the type of guys we are. We compete every day in practice and we're just hard-working guys."

The loss was only the second time in 29 games this season that FAU lost after leading at halftime.

In the locker room, former Palm Beach Lakes standout Giancarlo Rosado said, “it’s basketball. We have to live with the results.” But he added he's going to remember everything the team accomplished this season.

“The main thing I'm gonna remember is bringing three championships to this university. People thought our program was a joke ever since I've been here,” Rosado said. “So just to be able to say that me and my brothers are bringing back three championships to Palm Beach County, it’s outstanding.”

While it may leave a sour taste in the mouth of FAU fans, May and the players are already aching to get back on the court. The Owls join the American Athletic Conference next season.

“We're anxious to get better. That's the way we've been from day one. You're always in good standing in our program if you're trying to improve,” May said. “I didn't have my best game. A couple of guys didn't have their best game. And we're not going to dwell on it. We're going to hug each other for this season, and then we'll start thinking about how we can improve individually and collectively.”

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: FAU Owls want loss to San Diego State at Final Four to provide motivation