GAME NOTES: The Old Dominion Monarchs bring their perfect record at the Constant Center this season into Saturday's Conference USA matchup with the Owls of Florida Atlantic.

After losing two tough road decisions, Old Dominion notched a thorough 71-56 victory over FIU on Thursday. The Monarchs are still two games behind the conference leaders at 5-3 in league play, but they can build off the latest win heading into the final month.

Trey Freeman and Jonathan Arledge both scored 17 points, while Aaron Bacote contributed 15 points for the victors, who forced 14 turnovers and cashed in 21 points off them.

Old Dominion never trailed by more than three points and shot over 50 percent from the field in the second half to build on its eight-point halftime lead.

Their win streak at home has reached 15 straight dating back to last year, with 11 of those wins coming this season.

Freeman and Bacote are the team's only two players averaging a double-digit scoring figure, and it's Freeman that leads the squad with a 16.1 ppg mark - ranking sixth in the conference in individual scoring. Bacote chips in with 10.8 ppg on 41.4 percent shooting from the floor. Freeman owns a team-high 67 assists on the year, and Bacote is second in that category with 56 assists for the Monarchs. Denzell Taylor leads ODU in rebounding, pulling down 5.8 boards per outing. ODU's scoring offense isn't overwhelming at 66.0 ppg, but the team sports the best scoring defense in C-USA this season, holding opponents to 57.3 ppg on 40.0 percent shooting.

Florida Atlantic had more than a week's rest following its first conference win on Jan. 17, but the Owls came out flat on Thursday and were trounced by Charlotte in an 86-61 final.

Charlotte outrebounded FAU by a 47-24 margin and consequently outscored the Owls, 52-18, in the paint. The Owls only converted 37.5 percent of their shots and allowed Charlotte to make 54.7 percent.

Solomon Poole had a particularly rough night for the Owls. After coming in averaging 15.9 ppg in his nine appearances, Poole shot an ugly 3-of-21 and finished with just nine points. He still leads the team at 15.2 ppg.

Marquan Botley scored 23 points, while D'Andre Johnson and Justin Massey both contributed 10 in the loss, which dropped the Owls to 1-5 in conference play.

Botley is the scoring leader for players that have been present in all 17 contests, adding in a 13.2 ppg mark, while Jackson Trapp has tallied 11.4 ppg for the Owls, who currently average 64.2 ppg as a unit on 42 percent shooting from the field. Kelvin Penn is FAU's active rebounder this season, hauling in 6.9 boards per outing.

The Monarchs are simply a different team at home. Their defense is particularly stout on their own court, with only one opponent in the last eight games at Constant Center breaking the 60-point mark. The Owls normally have trouble filling the bucket, and they'll have an even tougher time on Saturday.