Florida Gulf Coast Beats San Diego State, Makes NCAA Tournament History With Sweet 16 Berth

SWEET 15!

Please direct all complaints about your busted bracket to Dunk City, Fla.

The Eagles of Florida Gulf Coast University are flying into the round of 16 after upsetting San Diego State in the third round in the South Region. A 17-0 run in the second half keyed the Eagles' 81-71 win, making them the first No. 15 seed ever to advance to the Sweet 16.

"Our goal was to make history and we did it," FGCU coach Andy Enfield told CBS after the game.

Playing the same high-flying style that endeared them to the nation in their stunning win over No. 2 Georgetown on Friday, Florida Gulf Coast overwhelmed San Diego State in the second half. Point guard Brett Comer racked up 14 assists, with many resulting in alley-oop slam dunks by his teammates.

Whether it is the bench players doing that bird dance on the sideline, Comer lofting one lob after the next to Eric McKnight (see above) and Chase Fieler (see this) or Sherwood Brown shaking hands at press row, there does not seem to be another team in the tournament having as much fun as Andy Enfield's bunch. With the possible exception of Wichita State (beat a No. 1 and a No. 8), there also may not be another team with more impressive wins.

The Eagles advance to face No. 3 Florida in the regional semifinal.

MORE FROM THE ASSOCIATED PRESS:

PHILADELPHIA — Not even many basketball fans knew about Florida Gulf Coast just a couple of weeks ago. They do now – the Eagles are the first No. 15 seed to make the Sweet 16.

Bernard Thompson scored 23 points and Sherwood Robinson added 17 to lead FGCU to its second NCAA tournament win in as many tries, an 81-71 victory over San Diego State on Sunday night.

FGCU (26-10), which shocked the world in the second round with a 78-68 victory over second-seeded Georgetown, was just as entertaining and impressive in the third round, again using a big second-half run to take control of the game.

Now, the Eagles will face an opponent that should know a lot more about them. Third-seeded Florida will play FGCU on Friday night in the semifinals of the South Regional in Dallas.

The upstart state school against the main campus. Seems right up FGCU's alley.

Jamal Franklin had 20 points for the seventh-seeded Aztecs (23-11), who were trying to reach the regional semifinals for the second time in three years.

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