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The FGCU men's basketball team was not able to continue their magic in ASUN Tournament semifinals on Saturday, March 7, falling to the No. 1 overall seed in Central Arkansas 73-63 at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena in Jacksonville.
The Sugar Bears were able to avenge their latest loss, which came to the Eagles in overtime on Feb. 21. It was the only loss Central Arkansas suffered in the month of February.
The first half saw fifth-seeded FGCU (16-18) fight and keep the game within two possessions throughout, responding with a 7-0 run after Central Arkansas scored the first five points of the game. But the Sugar Bears (22-11) responded with buckets from ASUN Player of the Year Camren Hunter, Ty Robinson, and a 3-pointer from Cole McCormick to take a 12-7 lead.
The Eagles found their own trio of players contributing offensively, as Michael Duax, Rory Stewart, and Jordan Ellerbee nailed buckets to take a 15-14 lead with 13:18 remaining in the first. Down the stretch, both sides managed to flex their muscles, with FGCU hanging around and keeping the game close despite being outscored 21-6 on bench points and outrebounded 26-20 in the first half.
FGCU's last lead would come right after the start of the second half, as Rahmir Barno's layup at the 18:19 mark gave Pat Chambers' team a 36-35 lead. Malchiah Marble generated an 11-2 run right after that for Central Arkansas, as Robinson, Hunter, and Harrison Beauchamp all scored in between a Duax bucket to take a 47-38 lead with 13:28 to go in the game.
Down 54-45 with 7:37 to play, the Eagles chipped away with an 8-0 run over their own triggered by Ellerbee, Barno, and J.R. Konieczny, who got the deficit to 54-53. That's as close as FGCU would get though, as Konieczny was playing with four fouls for the final 12 minutes of action, as did ASUN Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Malone, who picked up his fourth with just over eight minutes to go.
Down the stretch, the Sugar Bears hit some timely 3-pointers, as Javion Guy-King extended the lead to 61-55 before McCormick's 90 seconds later gave Central Arkansas a 64-57 lead with under 1:30 to go.
In the win for the Sugar Bears, Hunter led all scorers with 23 points, adding 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Robinson added 13, and Guy-King 12. Four Eagles finished in double figures, led by Duax, who scored 15 points with 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Barno scored 14, while Malone added 11 points and 13 rebounds. Ellerbee scored 10 on 4 of 13 shooting.
The Eagles' NCAA Tournament drought has now been extended to nine consecutive seasons. Central Arkansas will take on either Queens or Austin Peay for a bid to March Madness in the ASUN Championship, scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: FGCU comes up short against Central Arkansas in ASUN Tournament semis
Continue reading...
The Sugar Bears were able to avenge their latest loss, which came to the Eagles in overtime on Feb. 21. It was the only loss Central Arkansas suffered in the month of February.
The first half saw fifth-seeded FGCU (16-18) fight and keep the game within two possessions throughout, responding with a 7-0 run after Central Arkansas scored the first five points of the game. But the Sugar Bears (22-11) responded with buckets from ASUN Player of the Year Camren Hunter, Ty Robinson, and a 3-pointer from Cole McCormick to take a 12-7 lead.
The Eagles found their own trio of players contributing offensively, as Michael Duax, Rory Stewart, and Jordan Ellerbee nailed buckets to take a 15-14 lead with 13:18 remaining in the first. Down the stretch, both sides managed to flex their muscles, with FGCU hanging around and keeping the game close despite being outscored 21-6 on bench points and outrebounded 26-20 in the first half.
FGCU's last lead would come right after the start of the second half, as Rahmir Barno's layup at the 18:19 mark gave Pat Chambers' team a 36-35 lead. Malchiah Marble generated an 11-2 run right after that for Central Arkansas, as Robinson, Hunter, and Harrison Beauchamp all scored in between a Duax bucket to take a 47-38 lead with 13:28 to go in the game.
Down 54-45 with 7:37 to play, the Eagles chipped away with an 8-0 run over their own triggered by Ellerbee, Barno, and J.R. Konieczny, who got the deficit to 54-53. That's as close as FGCU would get though, as Konieczny was playing with four fouls for the final 12 minutes of action, as did ASUN Defensive Player of the Year Isaiah Malone, who picked up his fourth with just over eight minutes to go.
Down the stretch, the Sugar Bears hit some timely 3-pointers, as Javion Guy-King extended the lead to 61-55 before McCormick's 90 seconds later gave Central Arkansas a 64-57 lead with under 1:30 to go.
In the win for the Sugar Bears, Hunter led all scorers with 23 points, adding 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Robinson added 13, and Guy-King 12. Four Eagles finished in double figures, led by Duax, who scored 15 points with 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Barno scored 14, while Malone added 11 points and 13 rebounds. Ellerbee scored 10 on 4 of 13 shooting.
The Eagles' NCAA Tournament drought has now been extended to nine consecutive seasons. Central Arkansas will take on either Queens or Austin Peay for a bid to March Madness in the ASUN Championship, scheduled for Sunday at 2 p.m.
Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: FGCU comes up short against Central Arkansas in ASUN Tournament semis
Continue reading...
