DUNK CITY, Fla. – A dominant 2nd-half effort at both ends of the floor for the FGCU men's basketball team (4-2) led the Eagles to a 70-54 win over Navy (4-3) as part of the Homewood Suites FGCU Shootout Saturday night at Alico Arena.
 
FGCU was led by Brandon Goodwin with a game-high 19 points, while Zach Johnson added 17 points and Christian Terrell rounded out the backcourt triumvirate with his third career double-double behind 12 points and a season- and game-best 10 rebounds.
 
Leading by just two at the half, FGCU turned in arguably its best 20 minutes at both the defensive and offensive ends of the young season. The Eagles connected at a torrid 57.1-percent clip (16-28) from the floor in the 2nd half, while limiting Navy to just 38.5 percent (10-26), including an 0-7 mark from the 3-point line. The Eagles out-scored the Midshipmen in the final stanza, 42-28, to cruise to their second win in as many days.
 
"I thought once we got into a rhythm in the 2nd half we were able to take control of the game," commented FGCU head coach Joe Dooley. "But it all came down to our defense tonight. We were able to get stops and get out and run; the ball didn't stick as much tonight. We also did a much better job on the backboards and had better energy – especially in the 2nd half."
 
The Eagles shot a season-high 53 percent from the field (27-51) and limited Navy to just two made 3-pointers (2-18, 11 percent) – the fewest FGCU has allowed in a game this year. The 54 points are just shy of the fewest the Eagles have surrendered this year (53 at Siena).
 
After leading the nation in points in the paint last year, FGCU has started off this season exactly where it left off, out-scoring its sixth-straight opponent to commence the year in the painted area as the Eagles held a 36-32 edge over the Midshipmen.
 
Trailing 24-20 with less than two minutes remaining in the opening half, the Eagles closed the stanza on an 8-2 run, triggered by consecutive 3-pointers by Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) and Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) to forge ahead. A pair of free throws by Goodwin pushed the margin to four before the Eagles settled for a 28-26 halftime lead.
 
Entering the contest, FGCU was 71-5 when leading after 20 minutes under 5th-year leader Dooley, and the Green and Blue extended that mark to 72-5, thanks in large part to a strong start to the 2nd half.
 
FGCU opened up a seven-point lead not even five minutes into the half – then its largest lead of the night – but the big blow occurred a few minutes later when the Eagles orchestrated an extended 12-1 run over a five-minute span to turn a four-point advantage into a 15-point cushion, 52-37, at the 8:30 mark.
 
The Green and Blue advantage swelled to as much as 22 in the closing minutes before they settled for the 16-point win – their third double-figure victory of the young campaign.
 
With the triumph, FGCU also extended its impressive home record to an incredible 78-14 (.848) at Alico Arena since the start of the 2012-13 season. FGCU – which entered the game ranked #13 in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Poll – shot a strong 39 percent from 3-point range (7-18) and out-rebounded Navy by 16 (41-25) to finish with a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points.
 
Navy – which opened its season with a victory over Pittsburgh – was led offensively by Bryce Dulin and Shawn Anderson with 13 points each, while Tom Lacey added 10 points. The margin of victory would have been even larger for FGCU if not for a season-high 19 turnovers for the Eagles, which led to a 21-8 advantage in points off giveaways for the Midshipmen.
 
FGCU returns to action on Sunday for its third game in three days to close out the Homewood Suites FGCU Shootout against St. Francis Brooklyn at 6 p.m. The Terriers (1-4) have dropped their first two games in Southwest Florida: 85-76 Friday night to Navy, and 60-50 Saturday afternoon against Denver. In the first game on Sunday, Navy and Denver will square off at 12 p.m.
 
NOTEWORTHY: FGCU was again without 6-9 freshman Brian Thomas (Kennesaw, Ga./Kell HS) for the third-straight game with a fractured left hand, while leading 3-point shooter Dinero Mercurius (Orlando, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Christian HS) did not play after injuring his shoulder in Friday's game … it was the first all-time meeting between the two teams … FGCU went 9-10 from the free-throw line … Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) issued a game-high three assists …  Brady Ernst (Iowa/Indian Hills CC/Iowa State/Clinton HS) grabbed a season-best eight rebounds in a season-high 17 minutes.
 
IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
SOCIAL CENTRAL
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram, Like us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB and watch us on Snapchat at FGCU_MBB.
 
COACH DOOLEY
FGCU is led by head coach Joe Dooley, who is in his 5th season with the Eagles in 2017-18 and has coached eight all-conference selections in that time. He has led FGCU to 20+ win seasons and postseason appearances in all four years: 2014 NIT; 2015 CIT; 2016 NCAA; 2017 NCAA. Dooley was named the 2017 ASUN Coach of the Year and the 2017 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a D-I program record 26 wins. In 8+ seasons overall as a head coach, Dooley has a record of 152-100 (.603), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 95-48 (.664). Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine-straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.