Florida Gulf Coast University overcame a nine-point second half deficit to take a lead, but two chances inside the final 10 seconds bounced tantalizingly off the back iron for the Eagles as Stetson University held on for a 61-60 win over the Eagles Saturday afternoon in DeLand, Florida in Atlantic Sun Conference action.
Trailing 61-58,
Keeshawn Kellman sank a pair of free-throws with 34 seconds left to pull FGCU within a point. On the next Hatters possession,
Dallion Johnson forced a tie-up, with the arrow in favor of the guests. FGCU had a chance to take the lead as Kellman went for a turnaround jumper with eight seconds left, but the shot went off the iron and the rebound went out of bounds to the Hatters. After a pair of FGCU fouls, Stetson went to the line for a 1-and-1 opportunity with less than two seconds to go. The front end was missed, and
Dakota Rivers got the ball to Johnson. A desperation heave from 65-feet was out of Johnson's hands in time, but the shot hit the back iron and looped just away from the rim to close the contest.
Kellman had his second-straight double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Johnson closed the game with 11 points, while
Zach Anderson added 10.
The game was nearly as statistically even as possible. FGCU (11-16, 5-7 ASUN) made 25 field goals to 24 for Stetson. Both teams made five 3-pointers in the contest. The scoring difference was at the charity stripe. Kellman was the only Eagle to take a trip to the foul line as he went 5-of-6. As a team, Stetson (17-10, 9-3 ASUN) went 8-for-12.
The Eagles are currently in seventh in the ASUN standings, just one-half game in front of Central Arkansas, Queens, and Kennesaw State for a three-way tie for eighth and 1.5 games ahead of Jacksonville in the 11th spot. FGCU will face three of those teams in the final two weeks of the regular season, beginning with KSU this Thursday at Alico Arena. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m.
