JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball head coach
Pat Chambers earned his first ASUN Tournament win with the Eagles' 69-58 victory over North Alabama on Wednesday.
JR Konieczny dominated for the FGCU, delivering a 29 point, 15 rebound double-double. The 15 rebounds marked his career high, and his 29 points was the second-best performance of his career. It was Konieczny's fourth double-double of the season and his tenth 20-point game.
Every time the Lions made a play, Konieczny answered. North Alabama took its last lead of the game, 38-37, with 13:09 to play. Konieczny responded with a 3-pointer to give the Eagles a 40-37 lead that they wouldn't relinquish. FGCU slowly padded the lead with contributions from
Jordan Ellerbee and
Michael Duax, but the Lions drew back within two points, 60-58, with 2:02 to play. Konieczny knocked down a jumper thirty seconds later to make it 62-58, and followed that up with a dagger 3-pointer with 38 seconds left to seal the win.
"We were battle tested all season," head coach
Pat Chambers said. "We've dealt with so much adversity, injuries, you name it, and close losses, and we've worked on it. We've worked on it a lot. Not only do we have the experience in game, but we also worked on it in practice, and it was nice to see some guys step up in key moments down here. Sharing the ball, getting some timely stops, and getting some rebounds."
FGCU has performed at its best this season when the Eagles control the glass, and Wednesday was no exception. The ASUN leaders in rebound margin entering the game at plus-2.8 were plus-6, outrebounding UNA 35-29. The margin was driven entirely on the offensive glass, as FGCU collected 12 offensive rebounds to the Lions' six. Konieczny had six offensive rebounds on his own, matching UNA's output as a team. The 12 offensive rebounds turned into 14 second chance points for the Eagles to just five for North Alabama. Additionally, FGCU held the ASUN's leading rebounder, Corneilous Williams (averaged 9.3 per game) to just five on the game.
Ellerbee chipped in 10 points and a career-high six assists for FGCU. Duax scored 10 on 5-for-7 shooting from the field, and
Isaiah Malone delivered 10 points and six rebounds.
North Alabama was led by Williams and Kevin de Kovachich, who scored 11 points each.
With the win, FGCU advances to face No. 4 Lipscomb at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 6.
For more information on FGCU men's basketball, follow @FGCU_MBB on
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Postgame Notes
– Konieczny scored 29 points and had 15 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season and his tenth 20-point game of the season
– FGCU's win over North Alabama is the first win this season when Konieczny has a double-double
– The 15 rebounds were a career high and the most by an Eagle in a game this season
– His 15 rebound game was FGCU's first such performance since Andre Weir had 15 rebounds on January 7, 2023 vs. North Florida
– Konieczny has scored in double-digits in three straight games and eight of his last nine
– Ellerbee scored 10 points for his team-high 24th double-digit game of the season
– Ellerbee also tallied a career-high six assists
– The Eagles improved to 13-4 on the season when outrebounding their opponent
