FORT MYERS, Fla. – Justin Houser and Chase Konieczny each scored a game-high 15 points and the Eagles used an 11-0 first-half run to overcome a slow start in the Eagles' 89-67 win over New College on Friday night at Alico Arena.

The game marked the first contest at Alico Arena in the 25^th season of competition in the young but venerated facility, and was played in front of a crowd of 1,204.
 

In all, the Eagles (1-1) made 14 3-pointers, which ties for the ninth-most in a game in program history. The team also finished with a 44-37 rebounding advantage and got 33 points from their bench. New College (1-2) tallied 12 steals on 16 FGCU turnovers.

"We just had to give it our best shot, and I think we did so," said Konieczny. The first half we didn't do what we wanted to, but then the second half we came together, ran our plays right and rebounded better."

Bryson Lucas posted 12 points, seven rebounds, four blocks and three steals. Turk Brown recorded six assists, two steals and no turnovers while adding five points.



The Eagles outscored New College (FL) 50-31 in the second half and finished with an 89-67 win. Florida Gulf Coast went 10-for-18 from 3-point range in the half, including four 3-pointers from 19:22 to 15:53 as the score moved from 39-38 to 53-41, while New College (FL) went 1-for-13 from deep. The Green & Blue also shot 15-for-29 overall and 10-for-12 at the line, while New College (FL) produced 20 points in the paint but finished 12-for-36 from the field.

Will Murphree scored 17 points, hit two 3-pointers and added three steals. Dezmond McKinney finished with 14 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals. Zachary Chambers added 14 points while converting six of eight field-goal attempts. Ricardo Corvil collected seven rebounds, recorded four steals and added two assists.

Florida Gulf Coast shot 17-for-32 in the first half, held a 20-16 rebounding edge and blocked five shots, while New College (FL) stayed close by committing four turnovers to the Eagles' seven. New College (FL) also had a 24-22 edge in paint points, but the Green & Blue used an 11-0 run from 5:45 to 3:02 to move from a 31-23 deficit to a 34-31 lead. George Washington III's 3-pointer with 14 seconds left gave Florida Gulf Coast a 39-36 halftime lead.

Pat Chambers said the Eagles' response came through effort and communication, saying, "We started to play harder. We started to defend a little bit better,  and we communicated a little bit more." He also credited the home crowd, adding, "I thought the crowd was great. I really want to give credit to the Dirty Birds (student section). I thought we could hear them; we could feel them."



The first half moved back and forth early, with Darren Williams' 3-pointer putting Florida Gulf Coast ahead 7-5 and Bryson Lucas' dunk giving the Eagles a 9-8 lead before New College (FL) worked in front. New College (FL) built its advantage through turnovers and paint scores, going ahead 20-11 on Zachary Chambers' layup and later stretching the margin to 31-23 on Carson McCormick's 3-pointer at 6:04. The Green & Blue responded with an 11-0 run from 5:45 to 3:02, with Lucas scoring eight of those points and finishing the stretch with a steal and fast-break dunk for a 34-31 lead.

Dezmond McKinney tied it at 34 with a basket and free throw, and New College (FL) moved back ahead 36-34, but Houser tied the game before George Washington III hit a 3-pointer with 14 seconds left to send the Eagles into halftime ahead 39-36.

After New College (FL) moved within 39-38 on Will Murphree's jumper at 19:40, Florida Gulf Coast created separation with four 3-pointers in the next 3:29, getting makes from Chase Konieczny, Darren Williams twice and Brown before Justin Houser's layup made it 55-41 at 15:11. New College (FL) got second-chance baskets from Zachary Chambers, but the Eagles kept adding from the perimeter as Houser and BB Washington hit 3-pointers and Houser added free throws for a 63-45 lead at 11:55.

The Green & Blue pushed the margin again with Bryson Lucas' fast-break dunk, back-to-back 3-pointers by Matt McCarthy and Gabe Tanner's 3-pointer for a 78-52 lead at 6:11, while New College (FL) answered with a late stretch that included Ty Townsend's 3-pointer, Chambers' free throws and Ricardo Corvil's tip-in. Nikolas Sermpezis added four free throws down the stretch, Trace Westercamp hit a 3-pointer at 1:47 and McCarthy made two free throws with 50 seconds left as Florida Gulf Coast finished off the 89-67 win.
 
Florida Gulf Coast visits Georgia on Monday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. in Athens, Georgia on SEC Network+ before returning home to host FIU on Friday, Nov. 13 at 7 p.m.
 
Game Notes:

• Florida Gulf Coast is now 21-4 (.840) all-time in home openers. The Eagles have now won six of their past seven home openers and 15 of the past 17.
• The Eagles are now 277-107 (.721) all-time at Alico Arena and 338-178 (.655) when playing in the state of Florida.
• Florida Gulf Coast is now 2-0 all-time against New College of Florida.
• The Green & Blue are now 1-1 all-time on Nov. 6.
• The 14 3-pointers made by FGCU ties the ninth-most in a single game in team history, matching a similar effort that has occurred eight other teams, most recently at Central Arkansas (2/1/2024).
• Elijah Brooks, Nikolas Sermpezis and Trace Westercamp made their Eagles debuts in the game.
• Chase Konieczny
  • Tied a career-high with 15 points. He set a new career-high with two 3-pointers made.
• BB Washington
  • Scored a career-high eight points.
  • Made two 3-pointers for the first time this season.
• Bryson Lucas
  • Registered a season-high four blocks and three steals.
  • Recorded a season-high three steals, marking their first time reaching that total this season.
• Matt McCarthy
  • Recorded career highs in points (eight), 3-pointers made (two) and rebounds (six).
  • Recorded eight points, the first time reaching that total this season.
  • Made two 3-pointers, a season first.
• Turk Brown III  - Made their first 3-pointer of the season.
• Trace Westercamp
  • Made a 3-pointer for the first time this season.
  • Recorded a steal for the first time this season.
  • Recorded an assist for the first time this season.
  • Grabbed three rebounds for the first time this season.
• Nikolas Sermpezis
  • Recorded four total points for the first time this season.
  • Collected two total rebounds for the first time this season.
• Justin Houser
  • Recorded their first block of the 2026-27 season.
  • Dished out two assists for the first time this season.
• George Washington III
  • Made their first 3-pointer of the season.
  •  Recorded their first assist of the season.
• Gabe Tanner
  • Recorded three total points for the first time this season.
  • Made a 3-pointer for the first time this season.
  • Recorded a block for the first time this season.
  • Grabbed two rebounds for the first time this season.

 
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