Courtesy of FGCUAthletics.com
DUNK CITY, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Josh Adeyeye scored 35 points – the most by an opponent against FGCU in the Eagles’ Division-I era (2007-08), and the second-most all-time (since 2002-03). DuringSunday’s loss at Lipscomb, the Bisons made 19 3-pointers – the most by an opponent in FGCU’s D-I era and tied for the most all-time.
FGCU entered the game leading the league in points allowed, but the usually-stout Eagles’ defense has now suffered consecutive losses after winning seven in a row, and the setback moves FGCU’s home regular-season A-Sun record to 26-3 since the start of the 2012-13 season.
The loss came despite redshirt junior Marc-Eddy Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) setting the program’s D-I single-season record with his eighth double-double as the southpaw scored a team-high-tying 16 points and grabbed a team-best 11 rebounds. Sophomore Christian Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) secured his second career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds, while redshirt freshman Zach Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) continued his torrid stretch by matching Norelia’s 16 points – the ninth-straight game the point guard has reached double-figure points.
“Jacksonville got off to a great start and we played behind the entire game,” stated FGCU head coach Joe Dooley. “They were more aggressive and we couldn’t get stops. We had one little spurt in the first half, but then we turned it over and gave up offensive rebounds that led to 3-point shots. We never got into a rhythm offensively or defensively. They were more energetic. We need to be bring more energy because energy finds the ball.”
The setback moved FGCU into a tie for 2nd place in the A-Sun alongside Jacksonville, two games back of North Florida at 6-0. The Eagles travel to face UNF on Saturday night before facing Jacksonville again on Monday night. FGCU and JU are one game clear of 4th-place Lipscomb (3-3) and two games ahead of NJIT, Stetson and Kennesaw State at 2-4. USC Upstate is 1-5 and in 8th place in the league.
In addition to Adeyeye, preseason all-league selection Kori Babineaux scored 21 points to finish as the lone double-figure scorers for the Dolphins, who shot 43.8 percent (28-64) from the floor and 44.4 percent (8-18) from 3-point range – six of which came from Adeyeye.
Jacksonville came out aggressive and opened up a 10-point lead, 15-5, just more than six minutes into the game. FGCU fought back, and capped by a Terrell off-handed fastbreak dunk took a 20-19 lead at the 6:30 mark of the first half. However, what looked to be a total shift in momentum in the Eagles’ favor turned back around and JU held a 36-27 lead heading into the halftime break.
The Dolphins maintained a 45-35 lead early in the second half before FGCU rattled off seven straight to pull within 45-42 at the 12:50 mark and JU called timeout. Out of that break, the Dolphins were able to extend to a 12-point lead, 57-45, and eventually built an insurmountable 17-point cushion.
After shooting just 34.5 percent (10-29) from the field in the first half, the Eagles connected at a 44.1-percent clip (15-34) in the second stanza to finish the game at 39.7 percent (25-63). FGCU was also uncharacteristically out-rebounded, 43-42, and out-scored in the paint, 36-28 – just the second time all year it has failed to tally at least 30 points in the paint.
FGCU was again without the services of the lengthy shot-blocking and low-post presence ofDemetris Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) as the 6-9 forward missed his fifth-straight game with a muscle bruise in his right leg and remains day-to-day. The Eagles did receive a spark off the bench in the closing minutes in person of Brian Greene Jr. (Chicago, Ill./Auburn/IMG Academy/Thornton Township HS) as the redshirt junior entered the game with seven total points in nine games, but finished with eight points on 2-2 shooting (both 3-pointers), 2-3 from the free-throw line and two assists in just four minutes.
The Eagles also finished the game with redshirt freshman Rayjon Tucker (Charlotte, N.C./Northside Christian Academy) and redshirt sophomore Antravious Simmons (Miami, Fla./VCU/South Miami HS) on the bench. Tucker was fouled hard – officials issued a flagrant 1 after review – going up for a dunk in the second half and wasn’t able to play much more after that with a hip flexor. Simmons fell hard on his knees, and he played just 16 minutes – 12 for Tucker – as both players have been vital pieces to the Eagles’ season.
That season continues with an important weekend road trip to Jacksonville which gets underway Saturday night at 7 versus the Ospreys of North Florida.
Leave a Reply