FORT MYERS, Fla. – Jacksonville University Men's Basketball erased deficits in both halves, but came up short in the final minute at FGCU on Saturday, falling 76-69 at Alico Arena.
 
The Dolphins (19-9, 11-5) wrapped the ASUN Regular Season as the two-seed in the East Division and play at home in the ASUN Quarterfinals on Thursday night.
 
FGCU got off to a hot start on their Senior Day, sinking three quick three-pointers in the game's opening minutes, forcing Jacksonville to call an early timeout. From there, the defensive intensity picked up and on offense, JU went inside. Mike Marsh made a hook shot and a pair of free throws and Bryce Workman made a layup to cut it to one.
 
With 10:42 left in the first half, Osayi Osifo split a pair of free throws to tie the game at 15.
 
Four minutes later, FGCU used a quick 4-0 spurt to build the lead back to six, but Tyreese Davis answered with a three-point play and then a traditional three to tie it at 25 with just under five minutes left in the half.
 
Osifo sank a turnaround jumper and Workman added a free throw to give the Dolphins its first lead of the game, 28-25, but FGCU closed the half on a 5-0 run to lead 32-30 at the break.
 
Neither team scored for the first 2:13, but FGCU then got going, building the advantage to as many as 10 with 13:27 to play.
 
JU chipped away, cutting it to six with 10:33 left on a Gyasi Powell jumper and four when Powell sank two free throws with 6:30 left. Kevion Nolan made a driving layup to get it to three with two and a half remaining. After Tyreese Davis buried two free throws to bring the Dolphins within three again with 1:48 to play, Jordan Davis got a steal on the inbound and made a layup to cut it to one.
 
Jacksonville then forced a turnover and had a chance to take the lead, but a missed three led to a split at the free throw line by FGCU and another missed three turned into a runout dunk and JU was never within a single possession again.
 
UP NEXT
 
Jacksonville hosts the winner of the (3W) Central Arkansas vs. (6E) Stetson game on Thursday night at Swisher Gymnasium.
 
COACH'S COMMENTS

 

NUMBERS YOU SHOULD KNOW

• The 19 regular season wins were the most for JU since the 2010-11 season
• Osayi Osifo (11/10) secured his second-straight double-double and third this season
• Kevion Nolan recorded his 10th five-plus assist game of the year (6)