Florida Gulf Coast University overcame an 11-point deficit in the second half to hold a late lead, but the Eagles dropped a 70-69 decision in Atlantic Sun Conference men's basketball action to the University of North Alabama in Florence, Alabama Saturday night.
Isaiah Thompson scored a team-best 18 points, with 14 of those coming in the second half.
Zach Anderson added 16 points, with a dozen coming in the final 20 minutes.
After a slow start offensively both sides, UNA (11-12, 5-4 ASUN) held a 28-25 lead at halftime. A 9-0 run would help the Lions break free to hold a 45-34 lead with just under 15 minutes to go.
The Eagles (10-14, 4-5 ASUN) came soaring back. An 8-0 run in response brought FGCU back within three, 45-42. With the Eagles down 50-48, Thompson would drain the first of back-to-back 3-pointers, as the Eagles would regain the lead. As the pace and scoring slowed in the late stages of the second half, the Eagles would build a six-point advantage as a lay-up by
Franco Miller, Jr., and a jumper by Thompson after two FGCU offensive rebounds opened the lead up to 65-59.
UNA would take advantage of a pair of turnovers to knot the score back up, 65-all, as the game entered the final 90 seconds. Anderson would give FGCU the lead back, but UNA would tie the game at the charity stripe. When the next FGCU possession came up empty, the Lions would sink two more at the line to take a 69-67 lead. After a timeout, Thompson would hit a jumper to tie the game up at 69-all inside the final 10 seconds.
From there, three free-throws would decide the game. A foul on a drive to the basket would give UNA the chance to take the lead with 1.6 seconds to go. The first free-throw was good to give the home side the lead. The second free throw was intentionally missed so badly that it did not draw iron, giving the Eagles a chance to inbound the ball. The Eagles would manage to draw a foul on the ensuing inbound pass, but the front end of the 1-and-1 bounced cruelly off the iron. The follow attempt at the buzzer came off the iron and North Alabama held on for the win.
Both teams made 28 shots from the field. FGCU made five 3-pointers to four for UNA. The difference would come at the foul line as UNA went 10-of-13 and FGCU went 8-of-15.
Dakota Rivers had a game-high nine rebounds, including nine on the offensive glass. FGCU scored 13 second chance points on 13 offensive rebounds. The Eagles also out-rebounded the Lions 36-27.
The Eagles will be back in action this Wednesday in a nationally televised contest at Eastern Kentucky University. Tip-off on ESPNU is set for 9 p.m.
