FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Bernard Thompson scored 17 points and Chase Fieler added 14 more to lift Florida Gulf Coast to a 60-56 win in their conference opener against Northern Kentucky on Monday night.

After leading the entire first half, the Eagles (7-7, 1-0 Atlantic Sun Conference) twice had to battle back after the break, retaking the advantage for good with 7:13 left on a layup by Fieler, who surpassed 1,000 career points in the win. Brett Comer had 10 points and five assists.

Northern Kentucky (4-9, 0-1) opened the second half with a 3-pointer by Todd Johnson to briefly take a 29-28 lead that went back and forth twice, but the Norse couldn't break away.

Cole Murray led Northern Kentucky with 12 points.

Fieler entered the game needing just five points to reach 1,000-point mark and became the fifth Florida Gulf Coast player in the program's history to reach the milestone.