FORT MYERS, Fla. -
Isaiah Thompson scored 21 points to lead all scorers and
Keeshawn Kellman had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds as Florida Gulf Coast University came off the deck to stun Austin Peay State University, 73-67, Saturday night at Alico Arena in Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball action.
"I think we were all embarrassed with what happened on Thursday," said FGCU head coach
Pat Chambers. "We know we're a better team thatn that, but how do you respond to adversity and a challenge? How do you bounce back in less than 48 hours? I thought we had some incredible results and some great leadership. I'm really proud of what our bench was able to do collectively to hang in there, especially when [Austin Peay] was up by double-digits."
Austin Peay (10-12, 3-4 ASUN) led 25-12 early and then led 36-24 with 3:10 left in the first half. FGCU (9-13, 3-4 ASUN) would hold the Govs scoreless for the remainder of the half, and with
Rahmir Barno scoring four consecutive points in the final 90 seconds, the lead was only seven at the break, 36-29.
While APSU kept the Eagles at arm's length for the first 10 minutes of the second half, FGCU kept the game tight.
Cyrus Largie drove to the bucket to pull FGCU within a point, 55-54, with 9:00 to go. After the Eagles forced a shot clock violation on the other end, Largie would connect on a 3-pointer from the corner to cap a personal 5-0 run and give the Eagles the 57-55 lead.
The lead would bounce back-and-forth between the sides until the score was even, 60-all. After a Govs turnover,
Dallion Johnson finished a feed from Thompson with a layup at the basket to give the Eagles the 62-60 lead. After a defensive stop, Kellman would score his final points of the night as he skied up and over Austin Peay's 7-foot-3-inch center for his final basket of the night to give the Eagles the lead by four.
The guests would get no closer than two the rest of the way. Buckets and free-throws by Thompson were wrapped around a basket by
Zach Anderson as the Eagles held on for the big conference win.
FGCU will be back in action Thursday night in Conway, Arkansas against the University of Central Arkansas. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. EST.
