FGCU men looking to bring 3-game skid to an end
Next up for FGCU is a New Year’s Eve matchup with LaSalle at Alico Arena where the Eagles hope to halt a three-game losing streak in a 1:30 p.m. tipoff.
The matchup features a pair of Sweet 16 teams from 2013 when the Explorers advanced as a 13-seed the same season the Eagles became the only 15-seed to reach the round.
The Eagles (6-7) are coming off Monday’s 89-81 overtime loss at South Dakota, a game where they overcame a double-digit second-half deficit to force extra minutes. It’s the third time this season the Eagles have erased a double-figure deficit, but this time failed to convert it into a victory.
Sophomore Christian Terrell scored a career-high 25 points to lead FGCU, while redshirt junior Marc-Eddy Norelia recorded his sixth double-double with 20 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Redshirt senior Julian DeBose tallied 12 points for FGCU, which was facing its third straight top-110 RPI opponent.
Trailing 47-33 with 13 minutes remaining, FGCU turned to its full-court press and immediately started gaining on the Coyotes (8-6). The Eagles utilized an extended 20-5 run over five minutes to take the lead, 53-52, on a pair of free throws by Rayjon Tucker with 8 minutes left.
DeBose hit a huge baseline 3-pointer to put the Eagles in front followed by Norelia’s elbow jumper to give FGCU a 71-68 advantage. USD’s Tre Burnette converted an and-1 finish with 33 seconds left to tie it up in regulation.
In overtime, FGCU never led, trailing by as many as five points with a minute to play. DeBose hit another 3-pointer to make it a two-point margin with 50 seconds left. The Eagles turned the ball over twice in the waning seconds and the Coyotes converted both into buckets to score six points in the closing 20 seconds for the winning margin.
“The end of all three periods cost us the game,” said Eagles coach Joe Dooley. “We were awful in the first half turning the ball over, and at the end of the second half we said no three-point plays, and we gave up a three-point play. And then in overtime we have it at a one-possession game and can’t convert on defense and then turn the ball over.”
The Eagles committed a season-high-tying 21 turnovers that led to 22 points for the Coyotes.
FGCU women 71, Quinnipiac 70: The Eagles outlasted Quinnipiac Monday night in the team’s first overtime contest of the season.
The Eagles make a quick turnaround by welcoming Auburn to Alico Arena on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tipoff. The Eagles (10-4) host the SEC foe after visiting Auburn last season and suffered a 72-69 loss at the hands of the Tigers.
The Eagles took control of Monday’s game early on and created a 19-point advantage in the first quarter, but the Bobcats (5-6) began to chip away at the lead. The Bobcats took their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter before extending the advantage to four points late on back-to-back 3-pointers.
FGCU outscored the Bobcats 6-2 in the final five minutes to send the game to overtime tied at 59-59.
FGCU went 4-for-5 from the field in the overtime with back-to-back long-range baskets by senior DyTiesha Dunson and a late pair of free throws by Kaneisha Atwater. The Eagles allowed a mid-range jumper in the final seconds of the game, but held onto a one-point advantage as time expired.
“I thought we started off the game strong,” said Eagles coach Karl Smesko. “We were really pushing the ball and creating plays early with our offense. Fortunately, we got off to a good start because we really struggled to score after the first quarter. They’re a very good defensive team and they’re very well coached. I like their toughness. For us, it was nice to have some good fortune and be able to make the last play and get out with a win against a good team.”
Whitney Knight lead the team with 19 points and eight rebounds. The also got double-figure contributions from Dunson (14), Atwater (13) and sophomore Haley Laughter (14).