Jacksonville University’s men’s basketball team lost a close game to Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) on Wednesday night, with a final score of 86-84. The matchup in Ft. Myers marked the highest combined point total between the two teams since 2014.
Hayden Wood led Jacksonville’s offense, scoring 23 points and making nine field goals out of 13 attempts. This was Wood’s highest number of made shots in a single game and his tenth double-digit scoring effort in conference play this season. He was supported by Donovan Rivers and Jason Thirdkill Jr., who each added 16 points. Rivers and Thirdkill combined for an efficient shooting performance, making 13 of their 16 shots. Thirdkill also contributed eight rebounds, marking his eighth ASUN game with at least that many boards.
The game’s pace differed from the previous meeting between the programs, when Jacksonville scored only 49 points. By halftime on Wednesday, JU had already tallied 42 points but trailed FGCU by four.
Jacksonville took an early lead but fell behind as FGCU responded with scoring runs throughout the first half. At halftime, FGCU led 46-42.
In the second half, Jacksonville quickly tied the game and briefly reclaimed the lead at 55-54 with over fourteen minutes left. FGCU later extended its advantage to nine points with just over five minutes remaining. In the closing minute, Jaylen Jones scored a layup to cut into FGCU’s lead, followed by a three-pointer from Wood to bring Jacksonville within three points.
With fourteen seconds left, Thirdkill made his only three-point shot of the night to narrow FGCU’s lead to two points. Wood was fouled on a three-point attempt with five seconds remaining; he made two free throws before missing intentionally in hopes of securing a rebound, but FGCU collected the ball.
Both teams exchanged free throws in the final seconds, but Jacksonville could not overcome FGCU’s lead.
Jacksonville struggled in rebounding throughout the game and was outrebounded by FGCU 35-24. Jones finished second on his team with six rebounds and added fourteen points along with four assists—a personal best for him this conference season.
Defensively, Jacksonville limited FGCU to just three successful three-point shots—the Eagles’ lowest mark of their season so far—but JU struggled at the free throw line themselves, converting only fourteen out of twenty-six attempts (53.8%), their poorest showing since facing FGCU earlier this year.
Wood played a career-high thirty-seven minutes for Jacksonville while Thirdkill and Jones each logged thirty-three minutes on court. Enrico Borio returned after nearly a month away from action and recorded one rebound during his seven minutes played.
For Florida Gulf Coast University, Isaiah Malone set a new personal best by scoring twenty-four points. The win marked FGCU’s ninth consecutive victory against Jacksonville and continued their home winning streak over JU to nine games.
Jacksonville will play its final two home games next week: first against Austin Peay on Saturday evening followed by Stetson before finishing regular season play at North Florida at month’s end.
