FGCU men's basketball team turns up the defense to snap two-game losing streak
The FGCU men’s basketball team carried its first losing streak of the season into Thursday’s ASUN matchup against Jacksonville State at Alico Arena.
Thanks to a big-time defensive effort and some clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch, the Eagles ended their slide with a 55-51 victory.
FGCU (14-6, 4-3) held the Gamecocks to just 35% shooting and the 51 points were the fewest the Eagles have allowed all season.
“Shots weren’t falling again; I have no idea why but I know they will eventually,” FGCU coach Pat Chambers said. “But if we can keep defending and rebounding like that, we’re going to give ourselves a chance.”
Junior forward Zach Anderson led FGCU with 13 points, including a key bucket with 2:19 left that put the Eagles up 48-42.
Senior guard Isaiah Thompson scored five of his 11 points in the final 61 seconds, including sinking three of four free throws to help secure the victory.
“Credit to them, they played their butts off, they guarded us,” Anderson said of JSU, which dropped to 8-12 overall and 1-6 in ASUN play. “But we responded in a real positive way.”
Junior forward Juwan Perdue had a game-high 17 points for the Gamecocks.
Here are three takeaways from Thursday’s game.
No place like Alico Arena. Thursday’s win marked the 13th straight homecourt victory for FGCU, the most consecutive wins at Alico Arena for the Eagles in the program’s Division I era. The streak began last season with a 92-60 win over North Alabama on Feb. 9, 2022.
“The fans they definitely give us motivation, they give us enthusiasm,” Anderson said. “We always want to ‘Protect the Nest.’ That’s our main priority. We don’t want to lose at home.”
FGCU is a perfect 7-0 at Alico Arena so far this season.
Eagles do enough from long distance. FGCU outscored Jacksonville State 21-6 from the 3-point line with junior guard Chase Johnston knocking down three of the Eagles’ seven 3-point field goals, all in the first half. His final triple capped an 8-0 run for FGCU that put the Eagles up 24-16 and helped the team rebound from a lackluster offensive start.
Johnston injured his left ankle with 13:32 left in in the second half after he landed on Jacksonville State guard Travis Roberts’ player’s foot while defending a 3-point attempt. He did not return to the game. The Eagles made just two of their 10 3-point tries in the second half and shot 27% from deep (7-of-26) for the game.
Coaches vs. Cancer Night close to Chambers’ heart. The FGCU coaching staff wore colorful sneakers as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer program, which aims to unite communities in the fight against the deadly disease.
The gesture was especially important to Chambers, who wore special green sneakers in honor of his sister-in-law, who recently lost her battle with cancer.
“It’s been a tough couple months for myself, my brother, my kids and my family,” he said. “So it’s very near and dear, this Coaches vs. Cancer.”
Chambers encouraged people to learn more about the initiative online and donate if they can to help aid in the fight against cancer.
“We’re losing loved ones every single day to this vicious disease and we want to support our loved ones,” he said.
To learn more about the Coaches vs. Cancer program, visit coaches.cancer.org
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: FGCU men's basketball team defeat Jacksonville State with defense
