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Canisius University Athletics

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Tre Dinkins brings the ball up to floor at Toledo on Dec. 10, 2022.
Anthony Militello
81
Canisius Canis 2-9,0-2 MAAC
84
Winner FGCU FGCU 10-3,0-0 ASUN
Canisius Canis
2-9,0-2 MAAC
81
Final
84
FGCU FGCU
10-3,0-0 ASUN
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Canisius Canis 43 38 81
FGCU FGCU 42 42 84

Game Recap: Men's Basketball |

Late Three Lifts FGCU Over Men’s Basketball

Zach Anderson's 3-point field goal with 8.7 seconds left in regulation time proved to be the difference, as FGCU scored an 84-81 victory over Canisius in non-conference men's basketball action Wednesday night at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla. The win pushed FGCU to 10-3 on the year, while the Golden Griffins slipped to 2-9 with the road loss.
 
In a game that featured 17 lead changes and 11 ties, Canisius had the ball with 51 seconds left to play with the game knotted at 81-81. On that possession, FGCU's Chase Johnston, the Atlantic Sun leader in steals, took the ball away from the Griffs, setting up an offensive possession for the home team. Out of their final timeout, and with the shot clock winding down, FGCU guard Isaiah Thompson drove into the lane and kicked the ball to Anderson, who drilled the game-winning bucket from in front of his team's bench. Anderson ended the night with a game-high 22 points, and that 3-point field goal make in the game's closing seconds was his only shot attempt from behind the arc in the contest.
 
Canisius had two chances in the game's final 8.7 seconds to tie the game and send the it to overtime, however, the Eagles' defense stepped up and held the Griffs off the scoreboard. Graduate student Jordan Henderson fired a 3-point attempt from the far wing with less than three seconds left in the game, only to have that shot blocked into the seats by forward Dakota Rivers with 1.1 seconds remaining. Out of a timeout, Canisius was unable to get a final shot off as FGCU's defense stripped the ball away on the in-bounds pass, allowing the final horn to sound.
 
For Canisius, five players scored in double-figures, led by Henderson, who had a team-high 19 points. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native went 6-for-13 from the field, made three 3-pointers and also went 4-for-4 from the free-throw line to go with three rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Xzavier Long added 15 points, nine rebounds and two assists, while fellow sophomore Tre Dinkins chipped in 11 points and a season-high five assists. Senior Jacco Fritz and redshirt-freshman Tahj Staveskie each scored 10 points in the losing effort for Canisius, which shot 43.8 percent from the field, 43.3 percent (13-for-30) from 3-point land and 85.7 percent (12-for-14) from the free-throw line.
 
Anderson scored seven of his game-high 22 points from the free-throw line in the win for FGCU, which improved to 4-0 at home this year with the victory. Thompson added 21 points and six rebounds to the Eagles' cause, while Johnston was good for 14 points, six boards, four assists and a steal. For the game, FGCU shot 51.7 percent from the field, made 9-of-21 3-point tries and shot 78.9 percent (15-for-19) from the charity stripe.
 
Canisius trailed 40-34 with 3:53 left in the first half before the Blue and Gold closed the opening frame with a 9-2 run, fueled by five points in that stretch by Dinkins. His 3-pointer in the final six seconds of the first half, the Griffs' eighth triple in the opening 20 minutes, sent the Blue and Gold into the locker room up one at 43-42.
 
A 3-pointer by Staveskie with 13:46 remaining in the game gave Canisius a six-point lead at 58-52, but FGCU answered with the game's next six points to knot the score at 58-58 with 11:50 left to play. In the contest's final 11:50, neither team led by more than five points. Trailing by two at 79-77 with 2:07 left to play, Fritz evened the score at 79-79, and after two free-throw makes by Johnston with 1:36 remaining, Canisius again evened the score, this time at 81-81, thanks to a bucket by Long off a pass from Dinkins. On the next possession, the Griffs got a stop with a FGCU turnover, however, the Blue and Gold turned the ball over themselves the next trip down the court, setting up the game-winning 3-pointer by Anderson.
 
HEAD COACH REGGIE WITHERSPOON'S POSTGAME COMMENTS
"That's a tough loss. We just did not execute there late, and we had executed pretty well throughout the entire night. The turnover, obviously, really hurt us, and we didn't do a good job closing out on their man in the corner. I thought we had a good look coming down after their three, but they made two really good defensive plays late with the blocked shot and then keeping us from getting a shot off at the end. They are a good team, a well-coached team, and they are tough to play here in their gym."
 
"It was good to see us moving the ball and getting good, open looks, especially from three. At times this year, the ball hasn't moved quickly enough and we end up being forced to take contested shots. Tonight, we moved the ball and found the open man. It was good to see us getting back to shooting the basketball in rhythm."
 
"We've been working on our defense for a while. It takes a lot of effort. But to get better, we have to continue to give an effort that these guys are not familiar with. Playing defense is about effort. And when you play good shooting teams like [FGCU], sometimes you need to give a second effort, and then a third effort. We were good in stretches tonight, and I thought our level of desire was there, but there were a few times where we didn't give full effort, and they were able to take advantage."
 
"I thought our level of intensity, all the way around, from the guys on the floor to the guys on the bench, was pretty good tonight. And that's what we need. Especially on the road, because things aren't going to always go your way. Now we head into league play, and we know those games are always tight, one possession games, so you have to be ready. I thought we took some steps in the right direction there tonight."
 
GAME NOTES
• This was the second all-time meeting between the two schools. Each team has a win on its home floor.
• The 13 3-point baskets by the Griffs in the game marks the sixth time this season where the Blue and Gold have made 10-or more treys in a game.
• Canisius turned 12 FGCU turnovers into 22 points.
• The 43 first-half points are the most for Canisius in the opening 20 minutes of a game this season.
• Henderson's three 3-pointers gives him multiple 3-point makes in 41 career contests.
• Henderson's 19 points, his third-straight game in double-figures, gives him 988 career points, leaving him 12 points shy of becoming the program's 40th career 1,000-point scorer.
• The 15 points by Long marks the first time he's scored 10-or more in a game since having 19 points against St. Bonaventure on Nov. 12.
• Jacco Fritz made two 3-pointers in the loss, his second career game with multiple 3-point field goal makes.
• Junior Bryce Okpoh grabbed two offensive rebounds, extending his streak of multiple offensive boards in a game to 11.
 
UP NEXT
For the first time in more than a month, Canisius will play a home game at the Koessler Athletic Center, as the Blue and Gold returns home, and returns to MAAC play, on Dec. 30 against Rider. Game time is set for 7 p.m., and the contest will be broadcast live on ESPN3. The radio call can be heard exclusively on GoGriffs.com. Tickets for that game, and all remaining home games, can be purchased online at GoGriffs.com, or by calling the ticket office at (716) 888-TIXX.
 

 For the most up-to-date information on Canisius men's basketball, follow @Griffs_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
 
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