KENNESAW, Ga. – Coming off a vital victory at USC Upstate Thursday night, the FGCU men's basketball team (13-7, 3-1 Atlantic Sun Conference) will look to complete a perfect road weekend as the Eagles face Kennesaw State (6-14, 1-3 A-Sun) Saturday at 2 p.m. on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
Facing another formidable road challenge to open its A-Sun road slate, FGCU responded with a 71-68 win over Upstate, which had defeated Georgia Tech and Mississippi State in its non-conference docket. The triumph moved FGCU into sole possession of third place in the A-Sun standings, with a win Saturday over Kennesaw guaranteeing the Eagles a tie for second place following the third week of league action.
 
North Florida and Lipscomb both sit atop the A-Sun table with perfect 4-0 records; however, one of those teams won't finish Saturday that way as the two teams battle in Nashville at 5 p.m. EST. FGCU's lone league loss to this juncture came at UNF, while Lipscomb travels to Dunk City next Thursday, Jan. 29.
 
Kennesaw State, meanwhile, picked up its first A-Sun win of the season Thursday when it downed visiting Stetson, 88-82, and is now in a three-way tie for fifth place in the conference at 1-3. While FGCU is the preseason league favorite, Kennesaw was predicted to finish sixth in the A-Sun preseason coaches' poll and eighth (last) in the A-Sun media poll.
 
TWEETABLES (5 Things To Know In 140 Characters Or Less)
1) After starting the season 8-1, FGCU has won consecutive games for the first time since a three-game winning streak Nov. 30-Dec. 7.
2) After connecting at just a 67.2-percent clip from the free-throw line in its non-conference schedule, FGCU is shooting 77 percent in A-Sun action.
3) FGCU has recorded at least 16 second-chance points in all four A-Sun games (77 total), matching the output through the previous eight games.
4) The Eagles are 32-1 since 2012-13 when leading at the half (lone loss earlier this year to FIU), and 9-0 this year when scoring at least 70 points.
5) Brett Comer (1,301) needs just six points to surpass 2014 graduate Chase Fieler (1,306) for third place on FGCU's career scoring list.
 
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
^ Kennesaw used 54 second-half points Thursday to overcome a three-point halftime deficit to earn the win over Stetson.
^ The Owls opened their A-Sun schedule by dropping a 68-65 contest at USC Upstate before falling at Northern Kentucky, 76-72. Following the pair of close setbacks, KSU was defeated handedly at Lipscomb, 91-77.
^ Yonel Brown leads Kennesaw in scoring at 15.7 per outing, while Nigel Pruitt adds 12.1 per game, including a team-leading 48 3-pointers. The Owls lead the A-Sun in free-throw shooting, connecting at a 72.9-percent rate.
^ After serving as the interim coach for the final 16 games last year, Jimmy Lallathin enters his first season as the head coach of the Owls.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Through four A-Sun games this year, FGCU leads the league by only allowing opponents to score 62 points per game. Kennesaw State, meanwhile, ranks last in that category, allowing opponents to score an average of 79.2 points per game. Rebounding will likely be another key factor as FGCU leads the A-Sun (all games) with a +3.2 rebound margin, while the Owls are sixth in the league at -2.7.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU leads the all-time series, 8-6, but has won six-straight games against Kennesaw State, dating back to a 69-68 setback on the road during the 2010-11 season. In the six-game winning streak, the Eagles have out-scored the Owls by an average of 13.8 per game and defeated KSU in the Convocation Center last year in convincing fashion, 83-62.
 
RE-TWEETS (5 More Things To Know In 140 Characters Or Less)
1) Demetris Morant has grabbed 22 rebounds over the past three games and 15 offensive rebounds over the past four games.
2) Julian DeBose posted a season-high 18 points, 14 of which came in the first half, against USC Upstate on Thursday night.
3)  The three-point win over Upstate was the first this year decided by less than five points for FGCU, and was also the first when shooting worse than its opponent.
4) Bernard Thompson tied a season high with four steals against the Spartans, the 100th time in his career he's recorded a steal in game.
5) No D-I team in Florida has more wins this year than FGCU. Miami (13-5) is tied with the Eagles, and fellow A-Sun member UNF is close behind (12-9).
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will return home to The Nest as it welcomes Lipscomb (10-9, 4-0 A-Sun) on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7 p.m., and Northern Kentucky (8-11, 2-2 A-Sun) on Saturday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m.
 
FOLLOW ALONG
General-admission tickets for all FGCU men's basketball games at Alico Arena are still available and can be purchased by logging on to FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets, in person at the Alico Arena Ticket Office or over the phone at 239-590-7145. For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram, and "Like" us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB.
 
COACH DOOLEY 
FGCU is led by second-year head coach Joe Dooley, who coached three all-conference selections during his first season and guided FGCU to its first Atlantic Sun Conference Regular-Season Championship and first trip to the NIT. Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE 
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year to benefit the FGCU Campus Food Pantry (www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry) and the Harry Chapin Food Bank (www.harrychapinfoodbank.org), FGCU Athletics' charities of choice. For more information, including how to make a contribution, please visitwww.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.