MIAMI – Coming off a valiant effort at No. 18 Texas A&M on Wednesday, the FGCU men's basketball team (4-4) remains on the road to face cross-state foe FIU (4-4) on Sunday at 3:30 in a matinee affair televised on the American Sports Network.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
FGCU had a better shooting percentage, nearly out-rebounded and played the second half even against Texas A&M Wednesday night in College Station, but fell by a 75-65 margin. FIU, meanwhile, faces a quick turnaround as the Panthers dropped a 77-71 decision to Elon at home on Friday evening and have lost two straight.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
The game will be televised on the American Sports Network, which is not available in all areas of the country, including most of Florida. In Florida, only Cox Sports TV in Gainesville and Panama City and WTTA (MyTV) in Tampa will receive the game. The complete list of areas throughout the country that will receive the game – which includes portions of 31 states – can be found by clicking here. The game will not be video streamed online.
 
Additionally, live stats and a multitude of social media platforms are also available at the top of this release for fans to keep up with the action and behind-the-scenes coverage.
 
TWEETABLES
1) FGCU has only lost two halftime leads in 2+ years under Dooley (37-2): last Friday at Florida (33-32) and last year versus FIU (32-28).
2) The 21 turnovers at Texas A&M were tied for the most by the Eagles in Dooley's tenure. The other came in December 2013 at Mississippi State.
3) Against Texas A&M, FGCU had a better shooting percentage (47.2 / 40.6) and nearly out-rebounded the Aggies (38 / 37).
4) It marked the first time the Eagles shot at least 45 percent from the floor, had a better percentage than their opponent and lost since 2012-13.
5) Through eight games, sophomore Christian Terrell is just three points shy of eclipsing his entire 2014-15 scoring output – 110 points in 33 games.
 
FGCU vs. FIU
FIU leads the all-time series with FGCU, 4-3, and has won two in a row against the Eagles. Two years ago in Miami, the Panthers finished the game on a 24-5 run to claim a 72-61 win. Last year, FIU erased a 14-point deficit and shot 65 percent from the floor in the second half to leave Alico Arena with a 69-63 triumph. All three of FGCU's victories in the series came from 2007-12.
 
Nov. 26, 2002: FIU 78 FGCU 50 (road)
Feb. 12, 2004: FIU 77 FGCU 70 (road)
Dec. 2, 2007: FGCU 73 FIU 70 (road)
Dec. 12, 2009: FGCU 81 FIU 64 (home)
Dec. 13, 2012: FGCU 76 FIU 73 (home)
Dec. 7, 2013: FIU 72 FGCU 61 (road)
Dec. 14, 2014: FIU 69 FGCU 63 (home)
 
SCOUTING FIU
^ FGCU will be the second of three Atlantic Sun Conference opponents FIU will face in a four-game stretch as the Panthers lost to Stetson, 81-75, at home on Monday night and will travel to North Florida on Dec. 14.
^ Senior Adrian Diaz leads the nation in blocked shots per game at 4.4. He paces the FIU offensive attack at 15.4 points per game and also adds 9.4 rebounds per contest. Daviyon Draper averages 15.1 points per game, while Donte McGill scores 13.9.
^ FIU was picked to finish 10th out of 14 teams in the Conference USA Preseason Poll. Diaz, who averaged 13 points, 6.9 rebounds and 3 blocks per game last year, was a Preseason All-Conference USA First Team Selection.
 
DEFENDING THE ARC
FGCU finished 5th in the nation last year by holding opponents to just 28.6 percent from 3-point range. The Eagles are once again on a similar course this year as through eight games opponents are connecting at just a 22.9-percent clip, which currently ranks 5th in the country.
 
PROBABLE STARTER QUICK HITTERS
Julian DeBose: Re-aggravated an ankle injury in the game at Texas A&M as he played just 11 minutes and only one minute in the second half. He is expected to play against FIU.
Zach Johnson: Posted his second double-figure scoring performance of the season with 13 points at Texas A&M.
Filip Cvjeticanin: Scored a career-high 18 points against Texas Wesleyan in the home opener but has been held to single-digit points in the other seven games.
Marc-Eddy Norelia: Continues to lead FGCU in both scoring (14.5 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg).
Demetris Morant: Has posted consecutive nine-rebound performances versus Ave Maria and Texas A&M as he played a season-high 18 minutes against the Aggies.
 
UNDERCLASSMEN SHINING BRIGHT ON BIG STAGES
Against Florida and Texas A&M – the only two Power 5 teams on FGCU's regular-season schedule – the Eagles' young talents shown the brightest. The top four leading scorers (combined) in those two games were either freshmen or sophomores (Terrell: 23, Johnson: 19, Antravious Simmons: 13 and Rayjon Tucker: 12). Furthermore, the top seven scorers in those two contests are all non-seniors (Demetris Morant: 12, Norelia: 10, Reggie Reid: 10) as the FGCU cornerstone is well affixed for the rest of the year and subsequent seasons.
 
YOUNG, TALENTED AND DEEP
FGCU has just two seniors on its roster, and so far this year 82 percent of its scoring, 84 percent of its rebounding (excluding team rebounds) and 86 percent of its assists have come from non-seniors.
 
Not only are the Eagles young and talented, but they are deep as already this year 10 different players have reached double-figure points in a game. The only school in the nation with more is Georgia Southern with 11. Additionally, FGCU had four different leading scorers through its first six games.
 
Below is a list of players who have already scored 10 or more points in a game, their season high and how many times they've led the team in scoring.
 
R-Jr. Norelia (3): 34
R-Fr. Johnson (1): 26
So. Terrell (3): 24
R-Sr. Cvjeticanin (1): 18
Fr. Reid: 18
R-Sr. DeBose: 16
R-So. Simmons: 13
R-So. Kevin Mickle: 12
R-Jr. Morant: 11
Fr. Tucker: 10
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will have a week off for final exams before returning to the court at Alico Arena next Sunday, Nov. 13, against Massachusetts at 1:30 p.m. The Atlantic 10 Conference member is 5-1 on the year heading into a Saturday afternoon meeting with Ole Miss. The Minutemen – who have a top-50 RPI – will also travel to UCF on Dec. 8 before facing the Eagles.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are currently on sale for all remaining home contests. For the latest ticket information, log on to FGCUAthletics.com or call the Alico Arena Ticket Office at 239-590-7145.

SOCIAL CENTRAL
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram, Like us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB and watch us on Snapchat at FGCU_MBB.
 
COACH DOOLEY 
FGCU is led by head coach Joe Dooley, who is in his third year with the Eagles in 2015-16 and coached six all-conference selections during his first two seasons. He guided FGCU to its first Atlantic Sun Conference Regular-Season Championship and first trip to the NIT in 2014, and in 2015 he led the Eagles to their third-straight 20-win season and third-straight postseason appearance with a berth in the CIT. 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. Dooley is in his seventh season overall as a head coach and has a record of 105-80 (.568), and in his 2+ years with FGCU is 48-28 (.632).

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 visit www.fgcu.edu/foodpantry and utilize the hashtag #FeedFGCU to help raise awareness.