FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball (9-13, 3-6 ASUN) earned its third regular season sweep of North Alabama in program history (6-13, 1-7) with a 72-64 win at Alico Arena on Thursday night.
Jordan Ellerbee led the charge for FGCU with 18 points on 4-for-7 shooting from 3-point range.
Rory Stewart added 17 points and eight rebounds on 7-for-13 shooting from the field, and
Jack Reddick had an 11 point, four assist outing for the Eagles. Stewart's eight rebounds ties his career high and are his most as an Eagle.
The regular season sweep is the first for FGCU over the Lions since 2022. Head coach
Pat Chambers swept the Lions in his first opportunity, as 2022 was also the last time the two teams met twice in the regular season. With the win, the Eagles leveled the all-time series with UNA at 8-8.
"Great team effort," Chambers said. "I'm really proud of
Rory Stewart's leadership, I'm really proud of my sophomores. They played really well, they played hard, they competed. You're starting to see some player development, some growth from the sophomores… (it was) an overall collective team effort on the defensive side. I think we've been struggling on the defensive side, but we finally played FGCU basketball."
Both teams opened the game quiet from the field, combining for eight made shots in the first six minutes.
George Washington III hit a 3-pointer with 12:38 to go in the half that gave FGCU a 12-8 lead. The junior logged his first minutes at Alico Arena since the season opener after missing extended time due to an injury. He scored seven points and grabbed a pair of rebounds. The Eagles led for 34:50 in the win.
Chambers' defense showed its mettle in the last ten minutes of the opening half. The Lions only managed four made shots from the field during that stretch. Meanwhile, the Eagles knocked down five triples, including two from Stewart. He scored 14 in the first period for his best half of the season, and FGCU led 37-30 at the break.
The Eagles kept up the effort on both ends of the floor in the second half. Quality defense limited North Alabama to just 20% shooting from 3-point distance, FGCU's best defensive mark from behind the arc in ASUN play. Ellerbee hit a pair of triples, and
Darren Williams and Reddick each knocked down a shot from long range.
The Lions cut the lead to ten with 10:32 to play before Ellerbee hit his second triple of the half, sparking a 14-3 FGCU run. Stewart punctuated the Eagles' scoring stretch with a sidestep corner 3-pointer.
North Alabama cut into the deficit late, but the lead was ultimately too much to overcome, and
Michael Duax knocked down a pair of late free throws to give the Eagles the 72-64 win.
Next, FGCU takes on Jacksonville (9-13, 4-5) at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 31.
Tickets are on sale now for ASUN action at
https://fgcuathletics.evenue.net/list/FGCU.
For more information on FGCU men's basketball, follow @FGCU_MBB on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit
fgcuathletics.com.
Postgame Notes
– With the win, FGCU tied the all-time series 8-8
– Malone's four blocks are his most in ASUN play, and tied for his best outing against a Division I opponent (also had four blocks vs. Samford). The junior leads the ASUN in blocks with 43, which is already the 7th-most by an Eagle in a single season.
– Ellerbee's 18 points are his most in ASUN play and his 15th double-digit game this season (tied for the team lead. Six of those double-digit games have come in conference play
– Stewart's 17 points are good for his ninth double-digit game of the season, three of which have come in ASUN play. His 17 points are also his ASUN-best mark this season, and just one point shy of his career high.
– Stewart's eight rebounds are the most he's had at FGCU
– Reddick's 11 points are good for his second double-digit game of the season, both of which came in ASUN play
– Barno's nine assists are his third most this season and his second-best mark in ASUN play
– North Alabama's 20% (3-15) 3-point percentage is FGCU's best defensive performance from behind the arc in conference play, and the third best this season
– FGCU has won the rebound battle in all nine of its wins in 2025-26; and outrebounded UNA 35-33 on Thursday.
