For 20 minutes in Raleigh, Friday night the FGUU Men’s basketball team had the college basketball world on the edge of their seats. They actually led the game for the first 4 and one half minutes, then reality began to set in. It didn’t take long for North Carolina to gain control. Down by 11 points in the first half, the Eagles went on a 13-4 run to close the half down by only one, 41-40.
The Eagles shot a blistering 60 percent from the floor and 33 percent from behind the arc. Led by Antravious Simmons 11 points and Marc-Eddy Norelia’s 9 rebounds. The team out rebounded the Tar Heels 21-14 in the half, and each team was 9 of 13 from the foul line. The only category the Eagles did’t dominate was blocked shots as Carolina had 2 while FGCU had none, shades of things to come.
Twitter was lit up like Las Vegas at night. Could history be made a second time by these upstart Eagles? Meanwhile in one locker room FGCU had the confidence and belief that they could play with the # 1 seed. ” We were excited but we also knew we were going to match their intensity and energy in the second half,” said Sophomore Christian Terrell.
I the other locker room, the Tar Heel players expected the worst. How loud would Coach Williams be? How mad will he be? Who will he call out. Players were wondering what had happened to its defense. Especially after such a strong statement during the ACC tournament. How could they allow 60 percent shooting especially from a 16 seed? How could they be out rebounded (21-14) and out scored in the paint (22-16)? HOW, HOW, HOW! Williams, though, surprised the Heels with his, control and unlike Coach calm manner. Although Isaiah Hicks (12 points, 4 rebounds) said with a smile “I wouldn’t say calm, you had a few moments where voices were raised and stuff”. But whatever was said, the message was received.
FGCU Coach Dooley talked about a “bone headed start.” A Tar Heel 3, followed by a 2, Demetris Morant’s 4 foul, and in a blink the lead had grew to 6. The crowd was back in the game! And soon a 25-6 run turned the tide in favor of Carolina and order was restored. Terrell who led the Eagles with 15 points, would later say “They seemed to be everywhere on the court, blocking shots, controlling the paint, everywhere.” The Eagles missed 12 of their first 14 shots on their way to a 30 percent shooting half. The 6 foot 9 inch, 250 pound sophomore Simmons who finished with 14 points and 8 rebounds said “They’re some big, big, athletic dudes. They’re really good and they keep coming in, keep coming at you.”
The Eagles appeared to rush the offense in the second half. The shots stopped falling, every pass was contested, and control of the boards was no longer in the hands of the Eagles. The lead ballooned to 23 at the 8:44 mark in the second half. It was evident to the hundreds of FGCU fans who traveled a long way to whiteness history that this #16 seed would be part of NCAA tradition. Never in the tournament history has # 16 taken down a # 1. And they still haven’t. 83-67 a valiant effort, but a North Carolina win.
