Florida Atlantic completed their magical run at Walt Disney World Resort with a record-setting 84-50 win over Virginia Tech in the ESPN Events Invitational championship game on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2023. 34 points is the largest margin of victory in the tournament’s championship game history. FAU celebrated their first ESPN Events Invitational title with Mickey Mouse and a blast of confetti at State Farm Fieldhouse at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee, Fla.
Alijah Martin led the Owls with 17 points and was named the ESPN Events Invitational tournament MVP. The junior guard made three of his four 3-point attempts while also leading FAU with eight rebounds and four assists.
FAU was the first team to compete in the ESPN Events Invitational the year after making it to the NCAA Tournament Final Four since Villanova in 2018.
Final Results:
- Florida Atlantic
- Virginia Tech
- Texas A&M
- Iowa State
- Butler
- Boise State
- VCU
- Penn State
First Round
Penn State – 77
Texas A&M – 89
Florida Atlantic – 91
Butler – 86
Iowa State – 68
VCU – 64
Boise State – 75
Virginia Tech – 82
Semifinals
Texas A&M – 89
Florida Atlantic – 96
Iowa State – 62
Virginia Tech – 71
Championship Game
Florida Atlantic – 84
Virginia Tech – 50
Consolation Bracket
2nd Round
Penn State – 78
Butler 88
VCU – 61
Boise State – 65
3rd Place Game
Texas A&M – 73
Iowa State – 69
5th Place Game
Butler – 70
Boise State – 56
7th Place Game
Penn State – 74
VCU – 86