NASHVILLE – Fresh off its fourth-consecutive road win and in search of a Division-I program record eighth-straight victory overall, the first-place FGCU men's basketball team (18-7, 8-1 Atlantic Sun Conference) faces Lipscomb (11-13, 5-4 A-Sun) Saturday at 5 p.m. (EST, 4 p.m. local).
 
SETTING THE STAGE
FGCU, ranked No. 18 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Poll, moved into sole possession of first place in the A-Sun Thursday night after the Eagles earned a hard-fought 65-59 triumph at Northern Kentucky (10-14, 4-5 A-Sun). That victory, coupled with North Florida's second loss of the year to USC Upstate (19-7, 6-3 A-Sun), propelled the Green and Blue alone to the top of the league ledger for the first time this year.
 
The Eagles enter their second meeting of the year against the Bisons with a one-game lead over UNF (15-11, 7-2 A-Sun) and a two-game advantage over Upstate. After opening the conference slate with four-straight wins, Lipscomb dropped four in a row before defeating Stetson, 87-85, Thursday evening. The win kept the Bisons in fourth place in the league, three games behind FGCU.
 
HOW TO FOLLOW
The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 and via the WatchESPN app. Behind-the-scenes photos and information will also be posted by following @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram.
 
TWEETABLES (5 Things To Know In 140 Characters Or Less)
1) FGCU's seven-game winning streak is tied with a pair of runs from 2012-13 as the longest in D-I program history.
2) FGCU had never won four-straight road games (including the non-D-I years) until Thursday's victory at Northern Kentucky.
3) Jamail Jones scored a career-high 25 points against NKU, going 10-11 from the floor (.909) – the second-best percentage in program history.
4) The Eagles, who are 36-1 when leading at the half since 2012-13, won just their second game of the year when trailing at the break at NKU.
5) Lipscomb averages 8.5 3-pointers made per game (second in the A-Sun), while FGCU's 26-percent perimeter defense is second in the nation.
 
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
^ Lipscomb was predicted to finish third in the A-Sun Preseason Coaches Poll and second in the A-Sun Preseason Media Poll.
^ Josh Williams ranks second in the league in scoring at 17 per game, while Malcolm Smith is fifth at 14.7 per outing. However, in conference action both are well above their season averages as Williams is scoring 21.1 per game and Smith 17.4.
^ In A-Sun games, Lipscomb is averaging 73.2 points per game. FGCU leads the league by only allowing an average of 59.1 points in conference games – five better than any other team. The Eagles have only allowed one A-Sun team (UNF, 80) to score at least 70 points against them this year.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Lipscomb leads the all-time series, 9-5, but over the past seven games FGCU holds a 4-3 edge thanks in part to 78-62 victory on Jan. 29 at Alico Arena. The contests have typically been high scoring as in 12 of the 14 meetings FGCU has tallied more than 70 points, and in nine of the 14 matchups both teams have recorded more than 70 points. Last year's 21-point loss at Lipscomb (92-71) was FGCU's worst A-Sun defeat since a 23-point setback (86-63) against Belmont on Feb. 11, 2012.
 
BEST STARTS
At 18-7, FGCU is off to its best start in the D-I era, and the 8-1 A-Sun start is also the best in program history. Additionally, with 18 wins FGCU owns more victories than any other D-I team in the state of Florida.
 
RE-TWEETS (5 More Things To Know In 140 Characters Or Less)
1) The program's longest winning streak is 14, set in 2003-04 and 2006-07. The 2002-03 campaign featured an eight-game run.
2) FGCU's current .384 field-goal percentage defense and .260 3-point percentage defense are on pace to be single-season program records.
3) The Eagles rejected a season-high 11 shots against Stetson, tied for the second-most in program history (record: 13 vs. ETSU in 2012-13).
4) FGCU recorded three-straight games with single-digit turnovers from Jan. 29-Feb. 7 for just the second time in program history (Nov. 12-18 last year).
5) At 4.0 blocks per game, FGCU is on pace to set the single-season program record. Each of the top-4 single-season block records have come in the last four years.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU returns to The Nest to begin a closing home regular-season stretch of three-straight home games starting on Thursday, Feb. 19, against Kennesaw State 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.