FGCU Busts Brackets With Huge Upset Of No. 2 Georgetown

Little FGCU is busting brackets, and No. 2 Georgetown is going home.

In just its first tournament appearance FGCU defeated the Hoyas, busting brackets all over the country.

The No. 15 seed Florida Gulf Coast University out of Fort Myers took it to Georgetown all game, using a 21-2 run to gain a 52-33 lead with 12:28 to play. The double-digit lead lasted late into into the second half, when Georgetown unleashed a barrage of three-pointers to cut the lead to nine, then six, and at one point down to four.

But Georgetown could pull no closer, and FGCU made its free throws to ice the upset, 78-68.

The Eagles were led by Sherwood Brown, who had 24 points, and Bernard Thompson, who finished with 23. In doing so they sent home a Georgetown team that many thought could reach the Final Four out of the South Region.

Making the upset even more incredible is the fact that FGCU itself is only around two decades old, being incorporated in 1991 and admitting its first student in 1997. The basketball team has only been postseason eligible for Division I for two years.

It was a strange bookend to Thursday night, when the nation’s oldest university pulled off an upset of its own. The No. 14 seed Harvard defeated No. 3 New Mexico to earn a spot in the round of 32.

FGCU’s win also came a few hours after No. 13 La Salle held off a late rally to defeat No. 4 Kansas State, a dark horse pick to reach the Final Four in what was seen as a weak region. The Explorers jumped out to a 21-point lead and withstood a late rally by KSU, ultimately winning when the Wildcats botched their final possession.

For Georgetown, it was yet another disappointing NCAA Tournament appearance. In each of their last four appearances the Hoyas have lost to a double-digit seed.

After the stunning upset of Georgetown, FGCU now awaits the winner of No. 7 San Diego State and No. 10 Oklahoma for a Sunday night third-round matchup.