FGCU forward Bryson Lucas (5) goes up for a layup during the 89–67 victory over New College of Florida on Friday, Nov. 6, at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. Lucas finished with 12 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and three steals. (Photo Courtesy of FGCU Athletics)

FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Florida Gulf Coast University men’s basketball team bounced back using 14 3-pointers to defeat New College of Florida 89–67 in its home opener on Friday night at Alico Arena.

Justin Houser and Chase Konieczny each scored a game-high 15 points to lead the Eagles (1-1), who outscored New College 50–31 in the second half before a home crowd of 1,204. Bryson Lucas filled the stat sheet with 12 points, seven rebounds, four blocks, and three steals.

FGCU overcame a sluggish start and a 31–23 first-half deficit by sparking an 11–0 run, taking a 39–36 advantage into halftime following a late 3-pointer from George Washington III.

The Eagles blew the game open early in the second half, knocking down four 3-pointers over a three-minute span—including two from Darren Williams—to build a 55–41 cushion. FGCU connected on 10 of its 18 attempts from deep in the final 20 minutes while holding New College to 1-for-13 shooting from beyond the arc in the second half.

“We started to play harder,” FGCU head coach Pat Chambers told FGCU Athletics. “We started to defend a little bit better, and we communicated a little bit more.”

“We just had to give it our best shot, and I think we did so,” Konieczny said to FGCU Athletics. “The first half we didn’t do what we wanted to, but then the second half we came together, ran our plays right and rebounded better.”

New College (1-2) was led by Will Murphree with 17 points, while Dezmond McKinney and Zachary Chambers added 14 points apiece.

FGCU shot 50 percent from the field, won the battle on the glass 44–37, and received 33 points from its bench.

The victory brings FGCU to 21–4 all-time in home openers and 277–107 all-time at Alico Arena.

FGCU travels to Athens, Georgia, to face the University of Georgia on Monday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. in Athens, Georgia. The game will broadcast live on SEC Network+.