Keeshawn Kellman registered a game-high 22 points as Florida Gulf Coast University men's basketball defeated the University of North Florida 84-70 in Jacksonville at the UNF Arena. Saturday's point total is the most the Green & Blue has scored this season, surpassing 83 points against Jacksonville on Jan. 29. With the win, the Eagles clinched a spot in the 2025 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament and are still holding steady in first place alongside North Alabama and Lipscomb.
"Really gusty bounce-back effort from our guys," head coach
Pat Chambers said. "After Thursday, we could have been down, but that's the difference. We moved on and brought the intensity and the fight. Moving forward, the goal remains the same. Be the best team, and we have to keep adjusting and just keep pushing through."
Rapid Recap:
The Eagles meant business early by developing a 23-6 lead within the first nine minutes that featured nine points from
Dallion Johnson. The Green & Blue did not let up there and remained at a higher altitude than the Ospreys with a 13-4 run to push the advantage to 36-10. This offensive barrage was led by Eagles freshmen
Darren Williams, who delivered his first career three pointer had four points in the run. With 5:05 left in the first half, UNF searched hard for an answer and responded with 15 points compared to the Eagles' eight to try and stop damage. FGCU still led 44-25 heading to the locker room.
The second half looked troubling for UNF as the Eagles were soaring confidently. Kellman hit a poster of a dunk for the Green and Blue to reach the 50-point mark with still 16:53 left in the game. The forward ended the evening going 11-for-17 with eight rebounds. The Ospreys continued fighting and stayed afloat by outscoring the Eagles 29-21. The closest they would get in the second half, trailing 71-57. The Eagles stepped it up, and
Rory Stewart sunk a trey followed by another Kellman dunk to signal the fight was still on. Both teams matched each other's energy, scoring 13 points each until the final buzzer, but the Eagles had done enough to take the 84-70 victory.
Notes and Numbers:
- With Saturday's victory, FGCU improved to 14-11 overall and 9-3 in the ASUN.
- FGCU was an impressive 10-for-11 at the charity stripe.
- Every player scored in tonight's game.
- Johnson ended with 18 points and six rebounds.
Jevin Muniz matched his career-high nine assists while adding seven rebounds and six points.
Up Next:
FGCU heads to Austin Peay (10-15, 5-7 ASUN) Thursday, Feb.13 for an 8 p.m. tip off.
