Fieler and Brown score 14 apiece to help Florida Gulf Coast survive North Florida 75-73

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Chase Fieler and Sherwood Brown scored 14 points apiece to help Florida Gulf Coast rally and edge North Florida 75-73 Monday night in an Atlantic Sun Conference game.

Christophe Varidel came off the bench for 13 points, Eric McKnight added 12 and Bernard Thompson 11 for the Eagles (11-6, 3-1), who led 40-29 at halftime but watched North Florida build a 66-60 lead with 6 minutes left to play.

McKnight and Fieler hit back-to-back layups to spark an 11-2 run that put Florida Gulf Coast up 71-68 with 2:31 left.

A Parker Smith 3-pointer tied the game at 71 with 1:45 left to play but Fielder made a layup to put his team ahead 73-71. North Florida (7-10, 2-2) then missed three straight shots — a layup and two 3-pointers — on the same possession before Brown grabbed the rebound.

The senior guard sank 1 of 2 attempts to seal it.