FGCU men’s basketball drops home opener to St. Bonaventure, starts season 0-3

Pat Chambers, the head coach of the FGCU men’s basketball team, reacts during a game against St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. FGCU lost.

Home is not where the wins are. At least not on opening night for the Florida Gulf Coast men’s basketball season.

After starting the season 0-2 on the road, the Eagles fell to St. Bonaventure on Wednesday night at Alico Arena 74-65.

The loss marked the Eagles’ first 0-3 start in Pat Chambers’ first three seasons and thee first time since 2019. FGCU trailed for over 36 minutes but kept themselves within striking distance for most of the contest.

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“I just told the guys, ‘I truly believe there’s positive moments and negative moments’,” Chambers said. “Right now, we’re in somewhat of a suffering and pain-type moment. But these moments are going to help us grow and learn so we can put it all together by the time conference play is here.”

St. Bonaventure (3-0) made an effort to reach the paint early on. They fed Noel Brown in the post often, and it opened up the outside for open three-pointers and cuts to the basket.

FGCU struggled with turnovers, coughing up six in the first half while the Bonnies tipped many passes and made rhythm difficult to find. The Eagle giveaways helped St. Bonaventure hold a 38-34 lead at the half.

Dallion Johnson of the FGCU men’s basketball team drives to the basket during a game against St. Bonaventure on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2024. FGCU lost.

The Bonnies guarded a slim lead for much of the second half, and that lead shrunk to 55-52 after Rory Stewart buried a triple with nine minutes to play.

The two squads traded blows for the next five minutes until back-to-back FGCU turnovers helped spur an 8-0 St. Bonaventure run.

“We competed for 26 minutes,” Chambers said. “Unfortunately the game is 40 minutes. So let’s learn,…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/fgcu-mens-basketball-drops-home-041047949.html

Author : The News-Press

Publish date : 2024-11-14 04:10:00

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