FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Zach Anderson scored a career-high 23 points,
Franco Miller, Jr., added 17 and Florida Gulf Coast University steamrolled Stetson University, 80-56, in Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball action at Alico Arena Saturday night.
"We need to make eight to 10 3-pointers a game," said FGCU head coach
Pat Chambers, "but we also need that production in the paint. We need Keeshawn [Kellman's] production and Zach inside. Franco was tremendous at finishing tonight.
Dallion Johnson had some timely two's. I like balance. I really like our 15 assists and only six turnovers. If we can get that kind of balance and not get too out of whack, it gives us a good chance to be successful."
The Eagles (8-12, 2-3 ASUN) led from the first possession of the game onward as the squad started out by connecting on their first six shots. Kellman and Anderson combined for the first nine points of the game as the Green & Blue jumped out to a 9-0 lead in the first 2:30 of the contest. Leading 35-27 late in the half, FGCU would hold the Hatters scoreless for the final 3:25, with Miller, Johnson, and
Blaise Vespe each scoring over the final stretch of the half to make it a 41-27 game at the half.
The run to end the first half continued into the second as the run reached 13-0 thanks to buckets by Kellman, Anderson, and Johnson. Stetson (11-9, 3-2 ASUN) wouldn't score more than five points in a row at any point in the game. The lead for FGCU wouldn't be less than 21 for the last 15:26 of the game as the Eagles soared away for the easy win.
Miller scored 17 points off the bench to be FGCU's second-leading scorer. The Eagles got 29 bench points compared to just 16 for Stetson. In all, nine players scored for the Eagles, with Johnson's 10 accounting for the third player in double-figures for the Eagles.
Kellman went 4-of-4 from the field, improving his season average to 70.2 percent on field goal attempts. He is now second nationally in field goal percentage, just 0.3 percent out of the lead.
The Eagles will be back in Alico Arena for the second game of a three-game homestand as Lipscomb visits this Thursday night at 7 p.m. The contest will be a Coaches vs. Cancer contest, with fans encouraged to wear pink.
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