FORT MYERS, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball (10-15, 4-8 ASUN) lost 81-65 to Bellarmine (11-13, 6-6) on Saturday afternoon.
JR Konieczny led FGCU with 20 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and a steal.
Jordan Ellerbee was the only other Eagle to score in double-digits with 12 points.
Malone added one block on Saturday to move into a tie for the fifth-most in a single season by an Eagle with 47. His next two blocks will tie him for fourth & third in program history, respectively, and he's five blocks away from the second-best blocking season in FGCU history.
The Eagles kept the game close during the first half, with five ties throughout the period. The Knights took a four point lead in the waning seconds before
Rory Stewart knocked down a 3-pointer to beat the buzzer and pull FGCU within 32-31 at the break. FGCU shot 40.6% and Bellarmine shot 40.0% from the field in the frame.
In the second half, the Knights offense lit up the scoreboard, shooting 71% from the field, including an 8-for-12 mark from behind the arc. The Eagles were unable to muster a response outside of Konieczny and Ellerbee, and shot just 24.1% from 3-point range on the day.
Jack Karasinski led all scorers with 23 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field and 4-for-5 shooting from 3-point range. Tyler Doyle scored 19 and Sam Donald chipped in 17 for the Knights.
Next, FGCU returns home to face Stetson at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 11.
Tickets are on sale now for ASUN action at
https://fgcuathletics.evenue.net/list/FGCU.Â
For more information on FGCU men's basketball, follow @FGCU_MBB on Instagram, X (Twitter) and Facebook, and visit
fgcuathletics.com.
Postgame Notes
– JR Konieczny's 20 points is his eighth 20-point game of the season and fourth in ASUN play.
– Konieczny's seven assists are his career high
– Konieczny's 20 points are his 14th double-digit game of the season
– Ellerbee's 12 points are good for his team-best 18th double-digit game this season
– Malone is five blocks away from the second best blocking single season in FGCU history
– Malone's 47 blocks are tied for the fifth most blocks in a single season in FGCU history
– Bellarmine leads the all-time series 6-3
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