Eagles Soar to Victory, Stunning Owls in Last-Second Thriller
Boca Raton erupted in cheers as Jevin Muniz’s fadeaway jumper, released over the outstretched hand of Kaleb Glenn, swished through the net at the buzzer. The improbable shot sealed a stunning 80-78 upset victory for Florida Gulf Coast University over arch-rivals Florida Atlantic, extending FGCU‘s winning streak against the Owls to two.
"We’ll hopefully learn from it, and come back and get a win on Wednesday," FAU head coach John Jakus said after the heartbreaker, the Owls’ second buzzer-beating loss of the season.
The Eagles, who entered the matchup with a 3-5 record, trailed by 12 points at halftime after a scorching-hot FAU shooting performance.
"Some games are not going to go our way," admitted FAU guard KyKy Tandy. "We have to keep chipping away, keep shooting. Eventually they’ll go in, but tonight was not our night."
But FGCU emerged from the locker room renewed, holding the Owls to a paltry 29% shooting from the proliferation in the second half as they mounted a furious comeback.
"They clearly had a plan that said, ‘We’re going to rip it from 3 tonight, and if it goes, it goes, if it doesn’t, there was no thought’ ” Jakus said. "They got hot, credit to them.”
Solid three-point shooting propelled FGCU, reaching a season high 12 threes while shooting an impressive 52% from the field overall. Muniz led the way for the Eagles, finishing with 16 points and 5 rebounds while shooting 55% from the field and a blistering 4-for-6 from beyond the arc.
Despite the loss, Florida Atlantic saw a breakout performance from Baba Miller. The junior forward, a transfer from Florida State, was a force to be reckoned with. Miller, who entered the game averaging 8.8 points and 7.4 rebounds, erupted for a career-high 25 points. He scorched the nets for 16 points in the first half alone while shooting a stellar 82% from the floor, supplemented by a career-best five three-pointers.
"Just keep getting in the gym, keep my confidence up,” Miller said of continuing his high level of play. “But it really comes from our system, and the confidence that everyone around me gives me.”
Both teams will look to rebound Wednesday, with FAU traveling to face Florida International and FGCU hosting Furman.
## Clutch Shot Silences Owls,Propels Eagles to victory
**World Today News sits down with FGCU Head Coach Michael Fly to unpack the Eagles’ thrilling last-second victory over rival FAU.**
**WTN:** Coach fly, congratulations on the thrilling win against FAU. What was going through your mind when Jevin Muniz launched that final shot?
**Coach Fly:** Honestly, I was just hoping he’d get a good look.We had called a play for him, and I knew he had the confidence to take the big shot. Kaleb glenn is a fantastic defender, so I was holding my breath. When that ball went through the net, it was pure elation.
**WTN:** The team was down by 12 at halftime.What adjustments did you make in the locker room?
**Coach Fly:** we knew FAU was shooting lights out in the first half.Our focus was on defense. We had to tighten up our perimeter defense and contest every shot. We also emphasized moving the ball and finding good looks on offense. The guys responded brilliantly in the second half.
**WTN:** FGCU relied heavily on the three-point shot in the second half. Was that a conscious strategy going in, or did it develop organically?
**Coach Fly:** Our offense is built around spacing and creating opportunities. FAU was giving us good looks from beyond the arc, so we took advantage. The guys were hitting their shots with confidence, which is always contagious.
**WTN:** FAU had a tough night shooting in the second half.what do you attribute that to?
**Coach Fly:** Credit to our guys for defending hard. We forced them into some tough shots and made them work for every basket. FAU is a very talented team, so it was a great defensive effort from our entire squad.
**WTN:** This win extends your winning streak against FAU to two games. What does it mean for the team’s confidence moving forward?
**Coach Fly:** It’s always great to beat your rivals, especially on the road. It shows the progress we’ve made as a team. We have a lot of young players, and they’re starting to believe in themselves. This win will definitely give them a boost.
**WTN:** Looking ahead, what are your thoughts on the conference schedule?
**Coach Fly:** The ASUN is a tough conference with a lot of parity. Every game is a battle. We have a lot of work to do if we want to be contenders, but this win against FAU gives us a great foundation to build on.
**WTN:** Thank you for your time, Coach Fly. We wish you and the Eagles all the best for the remainder of the season.
