BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Domonic Tilford scored 27 points and South Alabama held off Florida Atlantic 74-69 on Thursday.
The Jaguars (9-5, 2-1 Sun Belt Conference) led 30-19 in the first half, but the Owls went on an 11-2 run to go into intermission trailing by two.
Florida Atlantic (4-10, 0-3) closed to within a point on three occasions in the second half, but could never take the lead. After the Owls' Carlos Monroe hit two free throws to make it 71-69 with 32 seconds left, C.J. Garner hit a free throw and a layup to seal the win for the Jaguars.
Florida Atlantic outrebounded South Alabama 31-22, but hit only 2 of 13 shots from beyond the arc in their fifth straight loss.
Tilford was 9-of-12 from the field and 4-of-5 from 3-point range for the Jaguars and Brandon Davis added 11 points.
Paul Graham III led the Owls with 25 points and Monroe had 21.