Florida Gulf Coast holds off SC Upstate 71-68

Jan 22, 2015, 09:39 pm

SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Julian DeBose scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half, Bernard Thompson added 14, and Florida Gulf Coast held of a second-half rally by SC Upstate to win 71-68 Thursday.

Brett Comer and Jamail Jones scored 10 apiece for the Eagles (13-7, 3-1 Atlantic Sun), who were outshot and outrebounded, but made 7 of 20 from distance and 16 of 21 free throws.

DeBose opened with a 3-pointer, Thompson hit back-to-back 3s and Florida Gulf Coast soon led by double digits, taking a 37-28 lead into halftime.

Ty Greene scored consecutive buckets and the Spartans rallied in the second half, pulling to a 55-53 lead after a layup and free throw by Greene with 7:06 left. The Eagles used an 8-2 run capped by a Thompson 3 to pull ahead 67-61 and held on down the stretch.

Greene led the Spartans (13-7, 1-3) with 26 and Josh Cuthbertson had 11. Fred Miller had seven assists.