Skip To Main Content

Jordan Ellerbee dunks against North Florida
Nick De Castro

Men's Basketball

FGCU heads to North Florida

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball (14-15, 8-8 ASUN) will play the last week of the regular season on the road, beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday at North Florida (6-23, 4-12).

The last time out, the Eagles used an improbable comeback to send Saturday's senior day contest into overtime, where it shocked Central Arkansas 75-71 at Alico Arena.

FGCU's senior day win was its sixth consecutive home win and fourth consecutive win overall. The Eagles snapped the Bears' 11-game win streak and handed UCA just its third ASUN loss.

The game went to overtime thanks to a clutch connection between JR Konieczny and Isaiah Malone. Konieczny lobbed an out-of-bounds pass from halfcourt directly under the rim with 1.5 seconds remaining to Malone, who dropped the ball through the basket with just enough time to spare to tie the game at 63-63 and force overtime.

In the extra period, the Bears held a 71-68 lead with 52 seconds remaining before freshman Jordan Ellerbee delivered one of the best moments of his career thus far. He took three dribbles to his right, pulled up from behind the arc and buried a 3-pointer to tie the game.

On the next possession, Konieczny timed his double team of a Central Arkansas player perfectly to knock the ball into the hands of Rahmir Barno. Barno lasered a bounce pass to Ellerbee, who delivered a game-winning tomahawk dunk.

"Fortunately we stole it, kicked it ahead, and (Ellerbee) just absolutely crushed it," head coach Pat Chambers said. "This place, the roof came off. It was awesome."

North Florida enters at 6-23 and 4-12 in ASUN play. The Ospreys have conference wins over North Alabama, West Georgia, Bellarmine and EKU. Since the two teams met, UNF has lost to Jacksonville, Austin Peay and Stetson.

The Ospreys have three players in double-digit scoring, led by Kamrin Oriol at 20.5 points and 4.3 assists per game. Oriol shoots 41.4% from 3-point range and 89.8% from the free throw line. Kent Jackson adds 15.2 points per game and 1.0 steals per game. Dalton Gayman scores 10.2 points per game and Mason Lee grabs 5.6 rebounds per game. As a team, the Ospreys average 1.4 blocks per game

North Florida leads the ASUN and ranks sixth nationally in 3-pointers made per game at 11.4. Jackson is the national leader in 3-point attempts with 278, and Oriol has taken 220 shots from behind the arc.

FGCU leads the all-time series 25-17 and has won four games in a row. The Eagles are 9-11 against UNF in Jacksonville.

For more information on FGCU men's basketball, follow @FGCU_MBB on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit fgcuathletics.com.
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Rahmir Barno

#1 Rahmir Barno

G
6' 0"
Junior
Jordan Ellerbee

#7 Jordan Ellerbee

G
6' 2"
Freshman
Isaiah Malone

#32 Isaiah Malone

F
6' 8"
Junior

Players Mentioned

Rahmir Barno

#1 Rahmir Barno

6' 0"
Junior
G
Jordan Ellerbee

#7 Jordan Ellerbee

6' 2"
Freshman
G
Isaiah Malone

#32 Isaiah Malone

6' 8"
Junior
F