FORT MYERS, Fla. - A late 16-to-2 run by UMBC in the final moments of the second half propelled the Retrievers to a 65-61 win over the FGCU men's basketball team on Saturday afternoon at Alico Arena. The Eagles led by 10 points with 5:01 left in the game before UMBC was able to mount the comeback to spoil the 2019-20 home opener.

FGCU (0-2) was led by sophomore Caleb Catto (Cape Coral, Fla.) who had 15 points and six rebounds alongside junior Jalen Warren (Milton, Ontario) who posted a season-high 14 points. Sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.) chipped in 11 points, while freshman Dakota Rivers (Windermere, Fla.) led the Eagles with a season-high eight rebounds.

"I'm definitely frustrated because I think that's a game we could have and should have won," said head coach Michael Fly. "I thought we controlled it for 37 to 38 minutes. I told the team that this is part of the learning experience - how to close out games. A lot of really good teams are 0-2 in college basketball right now and nobody is going to be the same in January/February as to what they are now. My hope is that this type of situation is one we win in the next two-to-three weeks."

The Retrievers had 21 points from both L.J. Owens and former Eagle Darnell Rogers while Keondre Kennedy added 10 points to round out the top scorers. Rogers scored four points in the final 64 seconds including a pair of free throws to push the lead to four, while Owens hit a three-pointer which gave UMBC (2-0) its first lead since midway through the first half.

Overall, FGCU shot 30.2 percent from the field and was 5-of-24 from beyond the arc. Both teams attempted 37 field goals in a game which featured 54 combined fouls. The Eagles went 24-of-37 from the stripe, while UMBC was 21-of-37. 

After the Retrievers built out a 15-9 lead in the first 6:30 of play, the Eagles scored six straight in just over a minute to tie the game. FGCU then cranked up the defense to hold UMBC without a field goal for an eight minute stretch and built out a 41-31 lead at the intermission.

UMBC chipped away for the bulk of the second half with FGCU able to keep extending the lead to 10 points. After a Rogers triple at the 8:30 mark cut the Eagles' lead to five, 54-49, a Rivers dunk followed by a Warren free throw and a Scott lay-up on the fast break pushed the advantage back to double-figures with just over five minutes remaining.

From there, the Retrievers were able to take advantage of a cold stretch for the Eagles who missed their final six shots from the field as UMBC made its run. FGCU had a chance to tie the game with six seconds to go, but missed a jump shot which led to two free throws by Rogers. On the ensuing inbounds, the Eagles went the full court looking for the quick lay-up to pull within a possession, but missed with the Retrievers clearing the defensive board for the win as time expired.

For complete coverage of the FGCU men's basketball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram @FGCU_MBB, on Facebook at @FGCUMBB, and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com.


 
BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now including season tickets, single game tickets and the popular mini-plan options. For more information, contact an FGCU Ticket Office representative by calling 239-590-7145, visiting Alico Arena Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by visiting www.FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets. Seating locations for new ticket packages will depend on availability. Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.
 
COACH FLY
Michael Fly was introduced as the fourth FGCU men's basketball head coach on April 5, 2018. He had spent the previous seven years as an assistant coach on the Eagles' staff. In that time, he helped FGCU to a 155-89 record (.635 winning percentage), including six ASUN Tournament Final appearances, three NCAA Tournament victories, three ASUN Tournament titles and three ASUN Regular Season Championships, two berths in the NIT, a CIT appearance and a run to the Sweet 16. He has coached 13 all-conference selections while with the Green and Blue, including two ASUN Player of the Year honors in Sherwood Brown and Brandon Goodwin, two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections in Bernard Thompson and Demetris Morant and one ASUN Newcomer of the Year in Schadrac Casimir. Of the top-10 players in career points at FGCU, Fly has helped develop eight of them, including all-time leading scorer Thompson (1,835). Additionally, the Kentucky alumnus has coached both the ASUN all-time assists leader Brett Comer (845; 24th in NCAA history) and FGCU all-time leading rebounder Chase Fieler (714).
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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.
 
ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 79 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as two of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--