Baker leads Eagles’ win
Reed Baker scored 23 points and Florida Gulf Coast University beat Stetson 85-76 in Atlantic Sun Conference action Thursday night.
Delvin Franklin added 19 points and Kyle Marks had 17 for the Eagles (6-10, 2-3), while Reggie Chambers chipped in 13.
FGCU, which was 31-of-45 from the free throw line, scored its final 20 points at the line as Stetson (6-7, 3-2) began fouling with 5:21 to play.
Garfield Blair scored 26 points, A.J. Smith added 17 and Sheldon Oliver had 10 for the Hatters.
The Eagles led 29-23 at halftime as Stetson hit just 22.9 percent of its shots in the first half (8 of 35).
FGCU opened the second half on an 8-1 run and led 37-24 after a three-pointer from Franklin.
The Eagles’ victory avenges a 76-71 Stetson win in DeLand on Dec. 4.
The Eagles host USC Upstate at 2 p.m. Saturday at Alico Arena.
FGCU women fall: Adrianne McNally scored 18 points and Shannon Murphy and Chelsea Lyles each added 14 points, but it wasn’t enough as the FGCU women lost to East Tennessee State 75-67. It is the first homecourt loss for the Eagles (9-4, 2-3 A-Sun) as well as their first back-to-back losses this season.
The Eagles return to action at Alico Arena at 4:15 p.m. Saturday against USC Upstate.