English leads Iona past Florida Gulf Coast 86-67

NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y. (AP) A.J. English scored 27 points and David Laury added 23 as Iona defeated Florida Gulf Coast 86-67 on Tuesday.

The Gaels (7-4) had a 49-38 lead at the half, which was a shootout between English, who had 22 points, and Brett Comer of the Eagles (9-3), who had 20 of his 22.

English, fourth in the nation in scoring at 23 points a game, had just 18 total points in the previous two games. He was 8 of 12 in the first half, 5 of 8 on 3s. He finished 9 of 18, 5 of 10.

Bernard Thompson finished with 19 for FGCU.

The Eagles never really challenged in the second half as English had five points in an early 13-0 run that made it 67-46.

Both teams shot well but Iona had six more 3-pointers and went 22 of 34 from the line to 7 of 15 for FGCU.