The FGCU men’s basketball team continued their hot streak in conference play with an 82-56 win over the Stetson Hatters over the weekend. The Eagles improved to 8-2 in Atlantic Sun (ASUN) Conference play and 5-0 at home.
Guard Dallion Johnson led the way for FGCU with 22 points on 8-for-14 (57%) shooting from the field and 6-for-12 (50%) from three-point range. Forward Rory Stewart also filled the stat sheet with 13 points on 5-for-8 (63%) shooting from the field and 3-for-4 (75%) from beyond the arc, four rebounds, an assist and a steal.
It was all Eagles in the first half after Johnson started the game, making his first four three-point attempts en route to a 17-point first half. Stetson struggled to stop FGCU’s offense in every aspect of the game, as they allowed the Eagles to shoot 6-for-15 (40%) from three-point range and outscore them 20-6 inside the paint in the first half. Kellman’s electric buzzer-beating dunk would put FGCU up 40-23 at the half.
Not much changed in the second half for Stetson. The Eagles continued to shoot the ball well and capitalized on forcing turnovers. FGCU forced 11 turnovers for 14 points and only allowed Stetson to score two points from turnovers.
The Eagles’ shutdown of an offense averaging 82.5 points per game over its last four games was aided by forcing turnovers and capitalizing on Stetson’s poor 7-for-14 (50%) free-throw shooting.
Doing the little things on the court and winning the individual battles on the box score has been a big part of FGCU’s strong start to conference play. They have been outscoring opponents by almost 10 points per game in the paint and are shooting 47% from beyond the arc during their last four games.
Playing good defense, winning the turnover battle, out-rebounding opponents and shooting the three-point shot much more efficiently have made the Eagles a dynamic, well-rounded offensive team gelling on both sides of the floor. Their ability to match their opponents’ styles could prove vital later as the team looks to secure the number one seed in the Atlantic Sun Conference and home-court advantage in the conference tournament.
FGCU will face Eastern Kentucky at Alico Arena on Thursday, Feb. 6, in a bid to avenge one of their two in-conference losses.
