Transfer Tapes: Jason Edwards Scores 32 vs. Florida Atlantic
It’s time to bring back Transfer Tapes where we look back on big games from incoming Providence transfers. We started this a few summers back after Al Durham and Justin Minaya committed to Providence, and it gave fans a different look at the future Friars.
Game: Florida Atlantic at North Texas on March 6, 2024
Why are we starting with Jason Edwards and North Texas against Florida Atlantic?
FAU was coming off a Final Four appearance in 2022-23, and played in three tightly contested games against North Texas and Edwards the next year. I knew we’d get a quality game against a great opponent.
The Owls featured a terrific roster, including Johnell Davis (who transferred to Arkansas last year), and other players who “transferred up” in center Vlad Goldin (Michigan) and Alijah Martin (a starter for national champion Florida this year). They also had Nick Boyd (San Diego State).
Edwards was in his first season at North Texas and already had four games of 30+ points prior to this game.
North Texas was led that season by Edwards and Aaron Scott (who played at St. John’s this past season). Edwards went for 32 in this one.
What stood out?
Florida Atlantic started on a 12-0 run behind four consecutive 3-pointers.
Edwards played mainly off the ball, scoring 16 points in both the first and second halves.
UNT flipped this game, taking a 47-40 lead in the second half of a game in which there were eight lead changes and four ties.
Johnell Davis, who hit a game winner in the first matchup, lit up North Texas for 21 of his 29 points in the first half. It’s worth noting, he was not being guarded by Edwards most of the night.
Nick Boyd made a series of big plays in the second half after North Texas took the lead.
This was a one-to-two possession game throughout the second half, but Davis came up with a bucket and an assist to Goldin to put it away in the closing minutes.
How Edwards got to 32
Edwards got North Texas on the board after he was fouled on a 3-pointer with his team down 12-0 early. He found a bit of luck in the first half, banking in a deep one, but was an efficient 11-21 from the field and 8-8 at the free throw line.
He was particularly effective inside the arc, catching the ball on the move and getting downhill on the catch, finishing at the rim, and hitting a number of shots from 13-17 feet.
It didn’t feel like Edwards was shooting a lot to get to 32 — it came within the flow of the offense in a very good game. Sixteen of his points came in the paint, and in 37 minutes Edwards turned the ball over just once.
The loss dropped UNT to 16-13 overall and 9-8 in AAC play with one game remaining in the regular season.
Here are three minutes worth of highlights from this one:
He gets in the paint so easily. I can envision him making interior passes to Oswin and Powell, etc.