Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Defeat North Alabama Lions 72-55
Saturday, January 3, 2026, 3:00 PM ET · CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles 72, North Alabama Lions 55, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs North Alabama Lions?
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles beat North Alabama Lions 72-55 at CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall on January 3, 2026.
Who was favored in Florida Gulf Coast Eagles vs North Alabama Lions?
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -166 (about 62% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Florida Gulf Coast Eagles triumphed over the North Alabama Lions with a final score of 72-55 at the CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers Hall. This victory marks a significant moment for the Eagles, who have now improved their record to 8-8, while the Lions fall to 5-9 following this contest.
The Eagles entered the game with a record of 7-8 and had shown a mixed performance in their last ten games, recording a 4-6 streak. They averaged 81.3 points scored while allowing 79.0 points per game during that stretch. Their most recent game before facing the Lions was a narrow loss to the Central Arkansas Bears, where they fell 83-85. In contrast, the Lions had a 5-8 record and were on a three-game losing streak, having lost their last match against the Stetson Hatters 67-70. Over their last ten games, North Alabama managed a record of 4-6, scoring an average of 69.3 points while conceding 73.1 points.
When considering home and away performances, the Lions had a home record of 2-2 in their last ten games, while the Eagles had a less favorable away record of 1-4. The Lions' recent form at home had been particularly concerning, as they averaged only 64.4 points scored and 71.6 points allowed in their last five games.
In their previous meeting on January 10, 2025, the Eagles had also bested the Lions, winning 75-70. This matchup continued to highlight the Eagles' dominance over North Alabama in recent encounters.
In terms of injuries, the block does not specify any players missing from either team, which means both squads were likely at full strength for this contest.
The betting market, as provided by DraftKings, had the Eagles favored by 2.5 points, with a total set at 147.5. The odds reflected a competitive matchup, but the Eagles' performance exceeded expectations, showcasing their offensive capabilities.
The game conditions were standard for indoor basketball, with no adverse weather factors impacting the play. Fans and viewers were treated to a showcase of offensive execution, particularly from the Eagles, who demonstrated effective scoring strategies throughout the game.
Key moments in the second half included a series of scoring plays from Rahmir Barno, who contributed significantly to the Eagles' lead with multiple layups and jump shots. The Eagles pulled away decisively in the second half, extending their lead to as much as 17 points at one stage. The Lions struggled to keep pace, ultimately falling short as they were unable to mount a comeback.
Overall, this game served as a crucial win for Florida Gulf Coast, providing them with a boost in confidence as they look to build momentum in the remainder of the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | FGCU -2.5 | 147.5 o -105 / u -115 | Florida Gulf Coast Eagles -166 · North Alabama Lions +140 |
Leaders
- PointsCanin Jefferson14North Alabama Lions
- AssistsCanin Jefferson1North Alabama Lions
- ReboundsDonte Bacchus9North Alabama Lions
- PointsRahmir Barno14Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
- AssistsRahmir Barno5Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
- ReboundsIsaiah Malone8Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Recent form
North Alabama Lions
Last 10: 4-6Streak L369.3 scored · 73.1 allowed per game2-2 at home
- L67-70vs Stetson HattersJan 1
- L57-91at Loyola Marymount LionsDec 20
- L60-68at Alabama A&M BulldogsDec 16
- W65-63at San Francisco DonsDec 4
- W73-66at Jacksonville State GamecocksDec 2
- W92-60vs UT Southern FirehawksNov 25
- L57-71at Chattanooga MocsNov 22
- L61-81at Clemson TigersNov 18
- L74-78vs East Tennessee State BuccaneersNov 15
- W87-83vs Northwestern State DemonsNov 12
Florida Gulf Coast Eagles
Last 10: 4-6Streak L181.3 scored · 79 allowed per game1-4 away
- L83-85at Central Arkansas BearsJan 1
- W84-43vs Fort Lauderdale EaglesDec 28
- L80-102at UCF KnightsDec 20
- L59-75at New Mexico LobosDec 14
- L76-81vs Florida Atlantic OwlsDec 7
- L83-89at Florida International PanthersDec 4
- L100-102vs Kennesaw State OwlsNov 27
- W78-63vs Rice OwlsNov 26
- W93-88vs Oral Roberts Golden EaglesNov 25
- W77-62at Samford BulldogsNov 20
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Peay | 22-9 | +1 | 15-3 |
| Central Arkansas | 22-12 | +1 | 15-3 |
| Queens University | 21-14 | 2 | 13-5 |
| Lipscomb | 19-13 | 3 | 12-6 |
| Florida Gulf Coast | 16-18 | 7 | 8-10 |
| West Georgia | 15-17 | 6 | 8-10 |
| Bellarmine | 13-19 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Jacksonville | 12-20 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Stetson | 12-21 | 8 | 7-11 |
| Eastern Kentucky | 11-21 | 7 | 7-11 |
| North Florida | 7-25 | 10 | 5-13 |
| North Alabama | 9-21 | 10 | 4-14 |
| Utah Valley | 25-9 | - | 14-4 |
| California Baptist | 25-9 | 1 | 13-5 |
| Utah Tech | 19-15 | 2 | 11-7 |
| UT Arlington | 18-14 | 5 | 9-9 |
| Southern Utah | 10-22 | 7 | 6-12 |
| Tarleton State | 14-18 | 9 | 5-13 |
| Abilene Christian | 14-19 | 9 | 5-13 |
Box score
| Stat | Florida Gulf Coast Eagles | North Alabama Lions |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 28-60 | 16-52 |
| Field goal % | 47 | 31 |
| Three-pointers | 9-25 | 5-21 |
| Three-point % | 36 | 24 |
| Free throws | 7-9 | 18-27 |
| Free throw % | 78 | 67 |
| Rebounds | 43 | 29 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 6 |
| Defensive rebounds | 34 | 23 |
| Assists | 14 | 5 |
| Steals | 6 | 9 |
| Blocks | 4 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 10 |
| Team turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| Technical fouls | 1 | 1 |
| Technical fouls, total | 1 | 1 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 8 | 14 |
| Fast-break points | 6 | 9 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 22 |
| Fouls | 20 | 11 |
| Largest lead | 19 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 94 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half31-22Canin Jefferson makes layup
- 1st Half31-23Canin Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 1
- 1st Half33-23J.R. Konieczny makes layup
- 2nd Half33-25Donte Bacchus makes layup
- 2nd Half35-25Isaiah Malone makes 8-foot alley oop dunk (Michael Duax assists)
- 2nd Half37-25Rahmir Barno makes layup (Darren Williams assists)
- 2nd Half37-26Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-27Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half37-29Kevin de Kovachich makes layup
- 2nd Half37-30Kevin de Kovachich makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half39-30Rahmir Barno makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half40-30Jordan Ellerbee makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-33Kevin de Kovachich makes 25-foot three point jumper (DarKaun King assists)
- 2nd Half43-33Rory Stewart makes 23-foot three point jumper (J.R. Konieczny assists)
- 2nd Half43-35DarKaun King makes layup
- 2nd Half46-35Isaiah Malone makes 24-foot three point jumper (J.R. Konieczny assists)
- 2nd Half46-36Canin Jefferson makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-37Canin Jefferson makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half49-37J.R. Konieczny makes 25-foot three point jumper (Darren Williams assists)
- 2nd Half49-39Jamal Albritton makes layup
- 2nd Half51-39Isaiah Malone makes 0-foot tip in dunk
- 2nd Half51-42DarKaun King makes 27-foot three point jumper (Canin Jefferson assists)
- 2nd Half51-44Canin Jefferson makes layup
- 2nd Half53-44Michael Duax makes layup (Tristen Guillouette assists)
- 2nd Half53-45Dallas Howell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half53-46Dallas Howell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half53-49DarKaun King makes 24-foot three point jumper (Kedar Bodie assists)
- 2nd Half56-49Jordan Ellerbee makes 25-foot three point jumper (Rahmir Barno assists)
- 2nd Half56-50Donte Bacchus makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half56-51Donte Bacchus makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half58-51Jordan Ellerbee makes 19-foot jumper
- 2nd Half61-51Rory Stewart makes 24-foot three point jumper (Rahmir Barno assists)
- 2nd Half61-52Donte Bacchus makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-52Isaiah Malone makes 11-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half65-52Rahmir Barno makes layup
- 2nd Half65-53DarKaun King makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half68-53Jordan Ellerbee makes 24-foot three point jumper (Rahmir Barno assists)
- 2nd Half70-53Rahmir Barno makes layup
- 2nd Half72-53Rahmir Barno makes 17-foot jumper
- 2nd Half72-55Donte Bacchus makes layup
Win probability
Above the line favours North Alabama Lions, below favours Florida Gulf Coast Eagles.
Venue
- CB&S Bank Arena at Flowers HallFlorence, AL
- Attendance2534
- OfficialsCoy Gammon, Jason Creek, Owen Farist
Elsewhere
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- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
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- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond