Johnson scores 19, FGCU opens A-Sun title defense 90-52
FORT MEYERS, Fla. -- Zach Johnson scored 19 points, knocking down five 3-pointers, and led four players into double-figure scoring as two-time defending champion Florida Gulf Coast opened Atlantic Sun Conference play with a 90-52 dismantling of Stetson Saturday night.
The 38-point margin of victory is FGCU's largest -- topping both a 33-point win in the 2016 Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, and a 32-point difference outside of conference. Brandon Goodwin, the A-Sun's second-leading scorer, added 18 on 6-for-8 shooting, Dinero Mercurius added 13 and Christian Carlyle 10.
The Eagles (10-8, 1-0) blew open a five-point game with a 19-5 run which ate up seven minutes of the first half and were up 52-23 at the break.
The Eagles made 18 of 26 field goals (69 percent) and were 7 of 12 from distance in the first 20 minutes. Johnson had already scored 16 points with four 3-pointers. FGCU shot 60 percent for the game (30 of 50) and made 12 of 24 3-pointers.
Divine Myles, the conference's third-leading scorer (both he and Goodwin trail Lipscomb's Garrison Mathews) finished with 15 points and seven assists for the Hatters (8-9, 0-1).
Game Information
- Referees:
- Rusty Phillips
- Suyash Mehta
- R.B. Clyburn
2023-24 ASUN Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Eastern Kentucky | 12-4 | - | 17-14 |
Stetson | 11-5 | 1 | 22-13 |
Lipscomb | 11-5 | 1 | 20-12 |
Austin Peay | 10-6 | 2 | 19-16 |
North Florida | 9-7 | 3 | 16-16 |
North Alabama | 8-8 | 4 | 15-17 |
Florida Gulf Coast | 8-8 | 4 | 14-18 |
Queens University | 7-9 | 5 | 14-19 |
Kennesaw State | 6-10 | 6 | 15-16 |
Jacksonville | 5-11 | 7 | 16-17 |
Central Arkansas | 5-11 | 7 | 9-23 |
Bellarmine | 4-12 | 8 | 8-23 |