Florida Gulf Coast Beats Mercer 60-57

FORT MEYERS, Fla. (AP) – Bernard Thompson scored 14 points as Florida Gulf Coast beat Mercer 60-57 Thursday night in Atlantic Sun Conference play.

Chase Fieler added 11 to help Florida Gulf Coast (20-10, 12-5) to its first 20-win season in its Division I history.

Ahead 55-54, Langston Hall made two free throws with 1:05 remaining to push Mercer’s lead to 57-54. Mercer missed its final three shots and did not score again.

Thompson made two free throws to make it 57-56, and Eric McKnight made two free throws with 18 seconds left to give Florida Gulf Coast the lead, 58-57.

Christophe Varidel made two foul shots with 3 seconds remaining to push the lead to 60-57.

Though the Eagles shot just 37 percent (10 of 27) in the second half, they outscored the Bears 14-4 on second chance points in the period.

Daniel Coursey and Travis Smith scored 14 for Mercer (20-10, 13-4).