FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Western Michigan men's basketball team trimmed a double-digit second-half deficit down to one in the final minutes, but ultimately fell, 77-67, at Florida Gulf Coast on Friday night in the opening game of the FGCU Invitational.
Trailing 58-46 with just over eight minutes remaining, Western Michigan (1-4) got a quick five points from a Lamar Norman Jr. layup and Mack Smith three-pointer to get within seven, 58-51. FGCU (4-2) briefly built its advantage back to 11, 62-51, but the Broncos fought right back with a 10-0 surge, capped by a Gus Etchison triple, to make it 62-61 with 3:06 to go.