"I was really proud of our guys tonight. We came out sluggish, which I'm always concerned about when we're on the road. But when we put that press on them, we started to play like the way we want to play," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "I think UMBC is going to have a really good year. That was a good win for us over a really good team. I was impressed with what I saw on film. I would like to take some of their stuff and implement it into our offense."
The two teams struggled to get into a rhythm out of the gates, as the scoreline read just 3-3 at the first media timeout. Redshirt senior Joe Sherburne caught fire from behind the arc and helped the Retrievers venture on an 8-0 run. UMBC maintained a solid cushion at 15-9, but the Eagles changed up the game plan following a much-needed media timeout.
The Eagles ratcheted up the defense and switched to a full-court press coming out of the under-12 break. That, coupled with an improved effort on the offensive side of the ball, helped the visitors mount a 31-11 run to close out the opening stanza. FGCU entered the locker room on top 40-26.
The Retrievers were able to remain within 14 at 50-36 with 14:40 to play, but a 16-4 surge would create enough separation for the visitors to close out the lopsided triumph.
FGCU committed 13 turnovers to just 11 for UMBC, but the visitors held a huge 44-26 rebounding margin and also led in points in the paint (22-20), second-chance points (10-7), fast-break points (11-4), and bench production (42-16). UMBC was held to just 30.6 percent (19-for-62) overall, 25 percent (8-for-32) from deep and 87.5 percent (7-for-8) at the charity stripe.
Junior Christian Carlyle and redshirt senior Dinero Mercurius finished with nine points each. Carlyle added four rebounds, two assists and two steals while Mercurius added two rebounds.
Junior RaySean Scott Jr. and freshman Caleb Cotto finished with seven points each. Scott Jr. also added eight rebounds and an assist before fouling out while Cotto added four assists and a steal.
Defensively, sophomore Brian Thomas and redshirt junior Brady Ernst added two blocks each. Thomas also added four points, five rebounds and a steal while Ernst added eight rebounds and an assist.
FGCU shot 51 percent (26-for-51) overall for the game, 52 percent (13-for-25) from behind the 3-point arc and 73.3 percent (11-for-15) at the free-throw line.
Sherburne led the Retrievers with 14 points, while junior K.J. Jackson added 12 for the home side.
Up Next:
The Eagles return to the Alico Arena as they welcome NAIA Keiser University on Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 P.M.
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