FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast will be bringing silver tidings when the Eagles open the season at the gold-resplendent UCF Knights on Monday night at 7 p.m. at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando.
FGCU will tip off its 25
th season of basketball in Monday's season-opener at the Big 12 Conference foe. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
In year 25, the Eagles' program is growing under the direction of head coach
Pat Chambers, now in his fifth year leading the team. Literally.
Fielding one of the tallest teams in program history and in Chambers' 16-year head coaching history with FGCU's first-ever 7-foot player in
Justin Houser, opponents will have to alter their approach in defending the much longer and taller Eagles this season.
Heading to Orlando, the Green & Blue will square off against familiar faces. The Eagles previously faced UCF in Orlando last December in a sizzling display of offense as both teams shot over 50% from the field. The Knights would use a program-record 19 3-pointers in the 102-80 win.
In that contest,
J.R. Konieczny played a team-high 32 minutes to score 17 points. Less than a year later, UCF will have to worry about a different Konieczny.
Chase Konieczny, the younger brother of J.R., will lead this squad of Eagles into Addition Financial Arena. He brings his lightning-quick shot release and ability to score along with him.
UCF has 11 newcomers on its roster this season, including one familiar to Eagles fans.
Isaiah Malone, the 2026 ASUN Defensive Player of the Year, made his way to Orlando a year after facing the Knights. Malone only had two points and three rebounds in 12 minutes last year against UCF.
FGCU remains in the Sunshine State for its home opener on Friday, Nov. 6.
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