For the third time in three years, the FGCU men’s basketball team has lost to the Queens (N.C) in the ASUN Tournament. The third time wasn’t the charm for the Eagles, as a 71-65 loss sent them out of the playoffs.
The Eagles entered the postseason as the No.3 seed with an 18-13 overall and 13-5 ASUN Conference record, the best under Pat Chambers in each respective category. They were set to play the No.6 seed Queen’s University Royals for the third year in the postseason.
In 2023, the No.10 Eagles played the No.9 Royals in a neutral site contest to advance to the ASUN Quarterfinal round. They lost this game 61-55. FGCU was granted a shot at redemption the following year as the seventh seed, to no avail, as they fell to No.8 Queens 69-63.
FGCU started the game with back-to-back buckets by Keeshawn Kellman and Michael Duax for a 4-0 lead. They ended the night with 16 and 4 points, respectively. However, missed shots and lack of production from the bench by FGCU allowed Queens to stay within single digits throughout the game.
Dallion Johnson struggled outside the arc, as he scored 10 points, went 2-10 (20%) around the three-point line and shot 25% (4-16) through 40 minutes. Zavian McLean picked up his slack, scoring 18 points and going 7-11 (64%). A layup by Johnson gave the Eagles a 36-33 lead to end the half.
Although the Royals (19-13,11-7) were at a deficit in the first half, they led most of the second. Leo Colimerio was the backbone of this charge with 21 points, six assists and three rebounds.
Both teams continued to trade the lead over the next eight minutes until a Kellman dunked the ball over a man for an and one. However, momentum fell in the Royals’ favor as they went on an 8-0 run for a 53-48 lead with ten minutes lead
The Eagles stayed within a two-score game of the Royals until the final minute. Yet, disparate shots from the three-point line and made risky passes in the paint continued to set them back.
Two free throws by Chris Ashby made the two-score put the game to bed, as the Eagles trailed by six points with 12 seconds left.
FGCU has gone 0-3 in the postseason under coach Pat Chambers. The last time the Eagles won a postseason game was against the No. 6 North Alabama Lions as the No.3 seed. They will have to wait another year to end the three-year drought.
“We have to be able to play smarter down the stretch,” Chambers said in FGCU Athletics’ post-game summary. “I thought we got some pretty good looks. It just didn’t go our way.”
