FGCU Basketball: Eagles roll in home opener

Last year, Puerto Rico-Bayamon stunned FGCU in the first game in school history.

Wednesday night at Alico Arena, it looked like history might repeat itself against Puerto Rico-Mayaguez, as the visiting Tarzans pestered the Eagles for a half.

But the Eagles are a little older, a little wiser and a heck of a lot more athletic this season.

There would be no upset this time, as FGCU pulled away in the second half for a 99-55 victory in front of an arena record 2,152 fans.

Five FGCU players scored in double figures and the Eagles used a five-minute burst early in the second half to put away a Mayaguez team playing its fifth game in as many days.

"We got reamed at halftime," said senior forward Scot Wilson. "But (head coach Dave Balza) didn't even have to tell us. We knew what we had to do."

Namely play with the kind of intensity the Tarzans (0-5) showed in the first half, when they broke the Eagles' press and forced FGCU into some seriously sloppy play.

"In the first half I didn't feel like we played with the same effort," Balza said. "I don't know if it was stage fright or what."

It was more likely the malaise that comes when playing a team you should beat easily. When the Eagles found themselves leading only 34-26 at the half did the Tarzans have their full attention.

"We knew we could beat them on pure talent, but the effort wasn't there in the first half," Fritz said.

"We knew we had to put forth that good effort to put the game away."

FGCU started the second half with more intensity, and it showed with an early 14-2 run to break the game open.

"It started with Brett's consistency," Balza said. "And I think Juan (Cedeno) and Bryan (Crislip) gave us a ton of energy. Juan was scrambling then you had (Gabe) Pean and (Marcus) Parker were tremendous in the press, getting in the passing lanes and getting their hands on ball."

Ryan Hopkins led all scorers with 16 points and Fritz added 15, including two off an assist from younger brother Tanner, a freshman guard.

"I've never been on the same team with him in a real game," Brett Fritz said. "I'm not talking about pick-up or anything, but a real game. It's been like that forever, even when we were eight and six and I was Larry Bird and he was Magic (Johnson) in the back yard."

The younger Fritz got to play after the starters made sure the game was well in hand. Even up big midway through the second half, Wilson remembered what it was like to lose a 17-point lead to Bayamon a year ago.

"We were up 20 and I turned to Crislip and I kind of smirked and I said, 'We lost an even bigger lead a year ago,' " Wilson said.

"But last year that was nerves.

First year, first game. We didn't play together because we'd never played before."

All 13 players in uniform for FGCU scored, including the first career points for Tanner Fritz and freshman center Geffrey Durosca.

The Eagles play Puerto Rico- Rio Piedras on Friday at 8 p.m. as part of the second annual Hillmyer-Tremont Tip-Off Classic.

NOTES: Freshman guard Brendan Rooney took the floor with his teammates Wednesday night, even though the Fort Myers High graduate will sit out the season as a redshirt.

Junior forward Trevor Montgomery, out until mid-December while he gets some credit hour issues resolved, decided to stay in street clothes. "I know if I dressed I'd want to play," said Montgomery. ... Senior forward Leighton Bowie could be available for the Hillmyer-Tremont Tip-Off Tournament this weekend at Alico Arena. Bowie has missed three weeks of practice while recovering from an injury to his right eye. Special goggles have been ordered, but they might not arrive in time for Bowie to play Friday when the Eagles open the tournament against Puerto Rico-Rio Piedras. Doctors told Bowie he wouldn't be cleared to play without protective eyewear. ... Season-ticket holder, Bonita Springs resident and longtime PGA Tour player Peter Jacobson watched from the front row. Jacobsen showed a little handle too when he grabbed a loose ball that flew out of bounds in his direction ...

with a baby on his lap. Jacobsen's son, Nick, was also in attendance. Nick is a freshman at FGCU and walked on the team but decided to focus on his studies.

FGCU 99, PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ 55

PUERTO RICO-MAYAGUEZ (0-5)

Hilerio 3-11 7-8 14, Rivera 4-14 3-4 11, Rosa 2-6 5-6 9, Colon 2-52-4 6, Bianca 2-8 2-2 6, Haselhorts 2-5 0-0 5, Melendez 2-4 0-0 4, Norse 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-53 19-24 55.

FLORIDA GULF COAST (2-0)

Hopkins 5-15 2-2 16, B. Fritz 7-10 1-1 15, Brown 4-8 3-4 11, Pean 4-5 3-3 11, Cedeno 4-6 3-4 11, Wilson 3-7 0-0 9, Parker 2-2 2-5 6, Tisme 2-4 0-0 4, Crislip 1-5 1-1 4, Anderson 2-5 0-1 4, T. Fritz 1-1 1-2 3, Kollmer 1-2 0-0 3, Durosca 1-1 0-0 2.

Totals 37-71 16-22 99.

Halftime-FGCU 36, Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 28.

3-point goals- Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 2-15 (Hilerio 1-7, Haselhorts 1-3, Bianca 0-2, Melendez 0-2, Rosa 0-1), FGCU 9-21 (Hopkins 4-14, Wilson 3-4, Crislip 1-2, Kollmer 1-1). Fouled out- Colon (Mayaguez). Rebounds-Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 20 (Rivera 5), FGCU 49 (B. Fritz 9). Assists-Puerto Rico- Mayaguez 6 (Rosa 3), FGCU 19 (Pean 5). Total fouls- Puerto Rico-Mayaguez 22, FGCU 23. A- 2,152.