Florida Gulf Coast Eagles

Mercurius leads FGCU to 62-54 win over Florida Tech (Dec 31, 2017)

Published Dec. 31, 2017 3:16 p.m. ET

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.

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