Score: Keiser 85, Florida Gulf Coast University 87 (EXH)
Records: Keiser (0-0), Florida Gulf Coast (5-8)
Location: Alico Arena– Fort Myers, FL
Keiser Starters: Radulovic (G), Fisher (G), Orlic (F), Gedeon (F), Matic (F)
Florida Gulf Coast Starters: Carlyle (G), Scott (G), Casimir (G), Scott Jr. (F), Ernst (F)

Keiser Highlights

• Marko Orlic finished with a team-high 24 points while also corralling six rebounds.
• Andrija Matic continued his recent trend of double-doubles, producing his fifth double-double in the last six outings with 19 points and 11 rebounds.
• Bryce Thurston put on a shooting display from off the bench, sinking 6-of-8 from downtown for 18 points, which, if it hadn't been an exhibition, would mark a new career-high.
• Jermar Perkins made his Keiser debut, contributing seven points, six rebounds, and four assists.

 
Turning Point
When trailing by five points with a little over two minutes to play, the hosts scored five straight points and tied it up with a three-pointer with just 1:28 to play, setting the stage for what was an unpredictable finish in the final seconds.

How it Happened

• Florida Gulf Coast opened the game's scoring with a dunk, but the Seahawks netted the next six points to go in front 6-2 after an Orlic jumper.
• The Seahawks continued to shoot the ball confidently out of the gate, and sunk their first five attempts from the floor after which they held a lead of 12-9 with 16:31 on the clock.
• The first Orlic triple pushed it to 15-9, but the hosts responded with a 10-4 run to tie it up 19-19 with 12:08 remaining.
•  KU began an 8-0 run to seize a 27-19 lead, capped off by consecutive three-pointers from Orlic and Matic.
• The teams exchanged punches, and the Seahawks maintained their eight point lead all the way up to a Matic fastbreak layup that put the score at 33-25 with 6:55 until the half.
• Florida Gulf Coast drew to within four points at 35-31 KU, but on the strength of an 11-3 run, Keiser went up by its largest margin of the game, 12 points at 46-34 following the first of Thurston's six three-pointers with 1:49 on the clock,
• Florida Gulf Coast scored a three-pointer to draw to within seven at the half (46-39), then the Eagles proceeded to score the first ten points of the second half to go ahead 49-46 with 16:37 to play, regaining their first lead since the opening basket.
• Despite the Eagles' momentum, Keiser went right back ahead 50-49 after a free-throw and a Thurston triple.
• Keiser held a 54-52 edge before the Eagles scored five straight, but Thurston hit a big shot to tie it 57-57 with 11:30 remaining.
• Thurston's three was part of what became a 9-0 Keiser run, which included a Perkins three and another from Thurston to make it 63-57 halfway through the final 20 minutes of play.
• Keiser continued to hit clutch shots in response to the Eagles' attempts to get back into it, and the Seahawks led by as many as eight with 4:49 to play, 78-70.
• Yet another Thurston three made it 81-73 moments later, but Florida Gulf Coast slowly began to chip into its deficit in the minutes ahead, coming back to tie it at 83 points apiece after a three-pointer from Zach Scott with just 1:26 to play.
• Out of a Keiser timeout, Matic was fouled and sank both free-throws to make it 85-83. The teams then exchanged turnovers before the Eagles' Schadrac Casimir was fouled, and he tied it once again, 85-85, with 22 ticks remaining.
• After a Keiser timeout, Thurston was called for an offensive foul with nine seconds left, and on the ensuing possession Casimir was able to draw a foul once again with a mere three seconds remaining.
• The FGCU guard was able to convert on both attempts to make it 87-85, and Keiser was unable to launch up an attempt in the waning seconds to tie or potentially win it at the horn.

 
Inside the Box Score

• Keiser kept Florida Gulf Coast out of transition, outscoring the Eagles 12-0 in fastbreak points.
• The KU defense forced 15 Florida Gulf Coast turnovers, turning them in to 17 points on the other end.
• Keiser's 12 made three pointers surpassed their previous season high of seven, which was set on October 27 in a 62-59 win over the University of the Virgin Islands.

Game Notes

• It was the first-ever exhibition between the two teams.
• Keiser came a few plays away from what would have been the program's fifth win in an exhibition with an NCAA Division I opponent.

Ties: 7
Lead Changes: 8
Largest Lead: Keiser (12), Florida Gulf Coast (3)
 
Team Leaders
Keiser
Points: Orlic (24)
Rebounds: Matic (11)
Assists: Perkins, Radulovic (4)
 
Florida Gulf Coast
Points: Scott (25)
Rebounds: Scott Jr. (12)
Assists: Day, Catto (4)
 
Up Next
After coming down to the final possession with Florida Gulf Coast, Keiser will look to continue similar form for when it hosts Olivet Nazarene University on Saturday, December 29 at 4:00 p.m.