Mercurius leads FGCU to 62-54 win over Florida Tech (Dec 31, 2017)
FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) Dinero Mercurius scored 15 points off the bench, Zach Johnson surpassed 1,000 career points and Florida Gulf Coast defeated Division II Florida Tech 62-54 on Sunday.
The Eagles (9-8), who played the Panthers exactly a year earlier and won 101-49, also got 13 points from Brandon Goodwin and 10 from Christian Terrell. Johnson had six to become the ninth Eagle, third as a junior, to reach the century milestone.
After baskets by Richard Coil gave Tech two-point leads just under the 15-minute mark, FGCU reeled off a 16-1 run with Goodwin scoring seven. The Panthers got back within five before Mercurius scored the Bulls' last seven points for a 32-23 lead at the half.
Coil had a layup and a 3-pointer to cap an 11-0 run and give the Panthers their only other lead, 46-44, with 6:55 to play. Terrell had a 3-pointer and 3-point play in a responding 11-0 run that allowed the Eagles to regain control with five minutes left.
Coil finished with 21 points and 12 rebounds. Sam Daniel, who averages 27.8 points, second in D-II, was held to seven on 3-of-17 shooting.
