Crazy 80-78 OT Win Over Stetson Leads FGCU Eagles to NCAAs

Zach Johnson sat out last season at Florida Gulf Coast because of medical reasons. In fact, doctors were so concerned about his health, many wondered if he would ever play college basketball.

Crazy 80-78 OT Win Over Stetson Leads FGCU Eagles to NCAAs

Johnson is now better than ever, and he and the Eagles are now headed to the NCAA tournament, after having won the Atlantic Sun Conference’s automatic NCAA Tournament berth.

The FGCU Eagles (20-13) defeated the Stetson Hatters 80-78 in overtime at Alico Arena in Fort Meyers, Fla., on Sunday night, which means the Eagles now lead in the series 22-12. Antravious Simmons led the Eagles with 21 points and 12 rebounds, while Johnson had 19 points and blocked a potentially tying shot at the rim with just four seconds left.

“I’m just excited I can get the seniors a chance to go,” Johnson said. “A lot of them haven’t been. And me, I’m a freshman, I haven’t had a chance to go.”

Marc-Eddy Norelia scored 16 points and Christian Terrell 15, including a spinning layup with 56.4 seconds left in overtime for FGCU (20-13), which is headed to the NCAAs for the first time since the team’s run to the Sweet 16 in 2013.

Derick Newton led Stetson (12-22) with 22. However, Stetson is ineligible for the NCAA Tournament this season, so its players knew their season would be over, win or lose. If the Hatters had won, the Atlantic Sun would have given regular-season champion North Florida the automatic berth.

Caption: LAS VEGAS, NV – DECEMBER 23: Javonte Green #2 of the Radford Highlanders is guarded by Chase Fieler #20 of the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles during the 2013 Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at the Orleans Arena on December 23, 2013 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Radford won 64-63. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena