JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A 12-2 run late in the game by Jacksonville helped the Dolphins secure a 75-67 win over Florida Gulf Coast on Saturday in the regular season finale for both teams at Historic Swisher Gymnasium. Jacksonville (10-21; 4-10 A-Sun) and Florida Gulf Coast (21-9; 11-3 A-Sun) now head to the Atlantic Sun Championship Tournament where the Eagles will host the Dolphins in a quarterfinal game on Tuesday in Fort Myers.  

"Everyone is tied for first now," said Marcel White who led four players in double figures for Jacksonville with 19 points. "Our focus now it to come out and prepare the right way tomorrow."

White had 11 of his points in the second half, including eight in the final five minutes of the game.

The Dolphins led by 11 at halftime and held a 13 point lead with 12 minutes remaining following a highlight reel alley-oop from Kori Babineaux to Antwon Clayton. Clayton would finish with eight points, eight rebounds, three blocks and two steals.



In an attempt to get the boisterous Historic Swisher Gymnasium crowd back in their seat, the Eagles called a quick time out which set the opening for their comeback. A 13-0 run by FCGU followed and tied the game at 49-49 just four minutes later.

"Coach just told everyone to calm down," White said of the Eagles run. "Let's just go back to doing what we were doing in the first half, stay the course and not lose our minds. We just had to settle down and keep playing hard."

Jacksonville was then down 58-54 before White started the 12-2 run with a pair of free throws. Still tied at 60 with four minutes on the clock, the Dolphins eventually took the lead for good on a Marcellous Bell three-pointer. White followed with one of his four three-pointers on the next possession as both threes came off assists from Babineaux.

"We practice those shots so much," said Babineaux of the three-pointers. "It is just drive, kick, then shoot with no hesitation. I've seen how many times those guys knock them down, so we all have a trust that they are going to make it when they have the open look."

A 9-10 performance at the foul line down the stretch by JU would then seal the win as Jacksonville hit 24 of 28 from the foul line for the game.

"That was it," Babineaux said of the free throw difference which the Dolphins made 24 compared to seven for the Eagles. "Stepping up to the line with confidence is a huge thing, but seeing your teammates make them is even better. You don't want to be the one who misses and lets the others down."

Babineaux, hit 4-4 from the line at the end and shot a perfect 8-8 for the game on his way to an 18 point day in which he also added seven assists and four rebounds.

After a 5-0 stretch for Florida Gulf Coast the opening two minutes, Jacksonville dominated the rest of the first half. The Dolphins answered the early run with a 9-0 spurt of their own capped by a three-pointer from White at the 16 minute mark. Later in the period, the Dolphins used a 20-8 stretch powered by eight points from Babineaux to secure a 14 point lead before heading into the half leading 38-27.

"We just tried to stay the course and stay poised," White said after they fell behind early on. "We tried not get to erratic with the ball and stay aggressive on offense."

The Dolphins improved to 21-5 in Swisher Gymnasium since the start of the 2008-09 season. Jacksonville went 5-1 in Swisher this year and has won eight of the last nine straight dating back to last season.

Prior to the game Jacksonville's lone senior Jeremy Bogus was honored.