FGCU/UCA RECAP

Conway, AR- FGCU (12-3, 2-0 ASUN) survived vs UCA (5-10, 0-2 ASUN), defeating the Sugar Bears, 84-79, in overtime, Monday night from the Farris Center.

Stats (FGCU):

FGCU shot 42.6% (29/68) from the field, 36.4% (12/33) from beyond the arc, and both teams grabbed 44 team rebounds. The Eagles dished out 22 assists, had 12 steals, and 2 blocks in the game. FGCU forced 16 Sugar Bears team turnovers, while having 16 team turnovers of their own.

Stats (UCA):

UCA shot 42.0% (29/69) from the field, 32.1% (9/28) from beyond the arc, and both teams grabbed 44 team rebounds. The Sugar Bears dished out 16 assists, had 7 steals, and 7 blocks in the game. UCA forced 16 Eagles team turnovers, while having 16 team turnovers of their own.

Outstanding Players (FGCU):

Andre Weir 22 pts, 9 reb

Isaiah Thompson 19 pts

Caleb Catto 11 pts, 10 asts

Outstanding Players (UCA):

VJ Reeves 24 pts, 8 reb

Cameron Hunter 15 pts, 6 asts

Johan Crafoord 11 reb, 7 reb

Overview:

Anytime you put UCA and FGCU on the court with each other, we get an instant classic! With so many lead changes, and technical fouls, we had everything you could see in a college basketball game. The Eagles built their largest lead of the game, 69-59, with 6:42 left in the 2nd half, but the Sugar Bears fought back, with an 11-0 run, to take a 70-69 lead, with 2:18 left in the game. With 33 seconds left in the game, Johannes Kirsipuu hit both of his free throws to possibly ice the game at 75-71, until Caleb Catto hit a three pointer, in which he was fouled, and made the free throw tying the game up at 75, to force overtime. The Eagles outscored the Sugar Bears 9-4 in the overtime period.

Andre Weir led the Eagles offensively, with a career high 22 points, Isaiah Thompson finished with 19 points, and Caleb Catto had a double-double of 11 points, and 10 assists. Central Arkansas was led offensively by VJ Reeves, who scored a game high 24 points. Cameron Hunter also finished in double figures for the Sugar Bears, and had 15 points. Games like tonight show that you still have to earn every victory, and the ASUN Conference regular season games are going to be a dogfight, no matter the opponent.

What’s Next:

FGCU (12-3, 2-0 ASUN) remains on the road to face Austin Peay University (6-9, 0-2 ASUN), Thursday at 8 PM from the Winfield Dunn Center in Clarksville, Tennessee.