Finally, in the win column. The FGCU men’s basketball team took its first season wins against California State University, Bakersfield and Florida International University in the MTE matchups from Nov. 22-24.
The Eagles began the weekend strong with a dominant 74-54 win against the CSU Bakersfield road runners.
Guard Dallion Johnson led this charge in the first game with a 3-pointer to give FGCU a lead they did not drop. He carried this momentum throughout the game, shooting a career-high 7-9 (77.8%) from the three-point line and a career-high 25 points.
However, a trend that the Eagles have dealt with the whole season is the struggle to get forward Keeshawn Kellman involved. This was apparent in this weekend’s MTE as he averaged 3.5 points between the two games he played.
He exited the Eagles’ second game against Northeastern University early with a lower-body injury. With the absence of Kellman, the Huskies were able to utilize the paint to grow a 26-16 lead.
The Eagles closed the gap against Northeastern in a contest where the teams continued to trade the lead. Johnson was able to have another double-digit game scoring 18 points.
Forward Rory Stewart had a career-high 13 points taking over for Kellman for the rest of the contest. Even with this effort from Johnson and Stewart the Eagles dropped the game against Northeastern 59-55.
However, FGCU ended its weekend in a nail-biter against FIU.
During the first half of the game, the Eagles quickly took the lead, with guard Zavian McLean making the first seven points of the night. FIU maintained a close following throughout the game, trading the lead with the Eagles throughout the first 20 minutes.
At the end of the half FGCU was 5-15 (33.3%) from the 3-point line, the struggle to shoot rubbed on Johnson as he shot 3-9 (33.3%).
To start the second half, the Panthers were just barely ahead of the Eagles, with the score standing at 30-29. Johnson quickly changed this with a 3-pointer in the first 30 seconds of the half.
Soon after, guard Rahmir Barno widened the gap between the teams, scoring four points. However, within three minutes, FIU managed to tie and surpass FGCU’s score.
The Eagles were quick to come back earning three points with a layup and two free throws by junior guard Jevin Muniz and redshirt junior forward Michael Duax. The Panthers attempted to come back from this, making two free throws with 26 seconds left on the clock, tying the score at 59-59.
Duax was fouled again with 21 seconds left on the clock. He made the free throw to give the Eagles the lead. A missed last-ditch 3-point shot solidified their 60-59 win over the Panthers.
FGCU exit the MTE with a 2-5 record. They look to improve upon that record when they return to Alico Arena to face Furman University on Wednesday, Dec. 4.
