‘Battle-tested’ Florida Gulf Coast stuns No

Dec 30, 2023, 11:50 PM ET

FORT MYERS, Fla.– Dunk City has pulled off another surprise.A years or so removed from making the Sweet 16 of the 2013 NCAA Competition as a No. 15 seed, Florida Gulf Coast made a splash again Saturday night– this time removing a Florida Atlantic team that made the Last 4 last season and was ranked No. 7 in the nation this week.Zach Anderson scored 21 points, Dallion Johnson included 18 and the Eagles beat the Owls 72-68. FAU ended up being the highest-ranked opponent FGCU has actually beaten in its history; that “Dunk City “team beat then-No. 8 Georgetown in the preliminary of the 2013 NCAA tourney.”We created our luck

tonight,”FGCU coach Pat Chambers stated.” We had whatever going against us tonight … and we still discovered a method.”Cyrus Largie scored 12 and Franco Miller Jr. ended up with 10 for FGCU (6-9), which never ever trailed in the game’s last 34 minutes. The Eagles came into the game as 17-point underdogs and needed overtime to beat NAIA member Florida Memorial last week.Editor’s Picks 2 Associated Vladislav Goldin scored 21 points for FAU( 10-3 ), and

Johnell Davis added 17

for the Owls– a group that beat then-No. 4 Arizona last weekend.”What we have actually learned is that our highs are very high and our lows are fairly low,”FAU coach Dusty May said.”And so, back to the drawing board as we head into league play.”FGCU led by 13 in the very first half and by 11 in the second half. The Eagles took the lead with 14:13 left in the opening half on

a 3-pointer by Anderson and didn’t track again.But they needed to dig deep late. Goldin made a pair of complimentary throws with 1:26 delegated connect it at 68, just to have Johnson respond to with a 3 on the next FGCU belongings. The Owls had 3 possibilities to tie on the next journey down the flooring– all 3-point shots, all missing out on, and it didn’t take wish for authorities and security to begin finding out how to obstruct students from storming the court.It didn’t matter. The students got out there anyhow, commemorating after FGCU enhanced to 2-13 all-time against ranked groups given that fully signing up with Division I.”We’re going to have the court

storms if we’re not careful,”Might stated.” We’re going to have everybody’s finest, emotional shot coming at us every single game. We need to gain from this.”The Eagles played host to Leading

25 teams twice previously. Butler– then coached by Brad Stevens– was ranked No. 16 when it entered into Alico Arena and won 78-66 in 2007, when FGCU was still transitioning to Division I. And the

Eagles lost to then-No. 25 Southern California 78-61 in 2021 in the return of Trojans coach Andy Enfield, who led the “Dunk City” group to the Sugary food 16 in 2013.”These guys right here are battle-tested, “Chambers stated. “These experiences are going to help us entering into conference play. “Chambers remains in his second season at FGCU, leading the Eagles to a 17-15 surface in his debut. The former Penn State coach stopped working to make the NCAA competition in all 9 seasons with the Nittany Lions, however took Boston University into the Round of 64 in 2011. The Eagles have not made the

competition because 2017. The Associated Press added to this report.