KENNESAW, Ga. – Looking to tie the second-longest winning streak in Division-I program history, the FGCU men's basketball team (12-7, 3-0 A-Sun) hits the road for a pair of Atlantic Sun Conference games this weekend as the Eagles play their first true road game since Dec. 6 on Thursday, Jan. 21, against Kennesaw State (5-14, 1-2 A-Sun) at 7 p.m.
 
OPENING TIP
With a win, the Eagles will match a pair of seven-game winning streaks by the 2012-13 Sweet Sixteen club as the second-longest in D-I program history, bested only by a 10-game run in conference play last season. FGCU has opened A-Sun play with a pair of 29-point victories over Stetson and USC Upstate, and a four-point overtime win against NJIT. Kennesaw State, meanwhile, had a double-figure first-half lead at North Florida last Saturday before falling to the Ospreys, 93-78. The Owls opened league action with a 102-86 win at home over Lipscomb and then fell at Jacksonville last Thursday, 83-70.
 
A-SUN STANDINGS
North Florida: 4-0
FGCU: 3-0
Jacksonville: 2-1
Kennesaw State: 1-2
NJIT: 1-2
USC Upstate: 1-2
Stetson: 1-3
Lipscomb: 0-3
 
WHAT TO KNOW
The game – like all A-Sun contests – will be broadcast on ESPN3 and via the WatchESPN app. Additionally, live stats are available, and a multitude of social media platforms can also be accessed at the top of this release for fans to keep up with the action and behind-the-scenes coverage.
 
TWEETABLES
1) Zach Johnson was named A-Sun Co-Newcomer of the Week on Monday after averaging a team-best 17 points and 4.5 assists per game last week.
2) FGCU and Stony Brook are the only schools in the nation that have both their men and women riding winning streaks of at least six games (FGCU women, 8).
3) The Eagles will be looking to tie their best start ever in the A-Sun at 4-0, set by the 2013-14 team.
4) FGCU will be playing its first true road game in 46 days. The Eagles played in Sioux Falls, about an hour from South Dakota's campus, on Dec. 28.
5) The Eagles are coming off a 61.9-percent performance (13-21) from 3-point range versus USC Upstate, tied for the second-best performance vs. a D-I opponent.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU owns a 10-6 lead in the all-time series with Kennesaw State. The Owls held a 6-2 lead in the series until the Eagles started their current eight-game win streak over them in 2011-12. The eight-game winning streak over KSU is the longest current streak by FGCU over an A-Sun opponent. The Eagles have won seven in a row over Stetson. Each of the last three games between the two teams have been decided by 10 points or less.
 
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
^ Kennesaw State finished last year 10-22 overall and 4-10 in the A-Sun en route to a 6th-place finish in the league. In the A-Sun Preseason Poll this year, the Owls were predicted for a last-place finish along with Stetson as both teams collected 13 points.
^ While the Owls have gotten off to a 5-14 start to the year, they did so by playing one of the most challenging non-conference schedules as KSU faced eight top-100 RPI opponents and four top-50 RPI foes.
^ Yonel Brown and Kendrick Ray lead a two-headed attack for KSU as both guards are averaging 17.6 points per game. Brown leads the nation by playing 38.9 minutes per game, and either he or Ray have led the Owls in scoring in every game except for three so far this year.
^ Head coach Al Skinner is in his first season at the helm of Kennesaw State. The long-time head coach at Boston College, Skinner – a former National Coach of the Year – has a career record of 390-305 in his 23rd season and has made nine NCAA Tournament appearances.
 
DEFENSIVE EMPHASIS
Kennesaw State enters the game with the league's lowest-scoring offense, averaging just 69.7 points per game for the year, while FGCU has the conference's best defense, holding opponents to only 69.1 points per game. However, in the first three A-Sun games of the year, KSU is averaging 83.3 points per game, while FGCU's defense has gotten even more stringent and is limiting foes to 62.3 points per game – more than 10 points lower than anyone else in the league.
 
The Eagles have already held seven teams this year to 60 points or less, and since third-year head coach Joe Dooley took over, FGCU has held teams below that mark 28 times dating back to 2013-14 – something which occurred just 20 times total in five years from 2007-12. KSU has not won a game this year when being held to 60 points or less.
 
OFFENSIVE EXPLOSION
FGCU has started the A-Sun season by scoring 80 or more points in each game for the first time in program history. If the Eagles are able to reach 80 points against Kennesaw State, it will mark the first time in program history FGCU has scored at least 80 points in four-straight A-Sun games.
 
The Eagles have scored at least 80 points 10 times this year and are 9-1 in those games. FGCU only reached 80 points 12 total times in the previous two years. The Green and Blue are on pace to shatter the previous single-season D-I program scoring record of 72.9 set by the 2012-13 team as the Eagles are averaging 78.1 points per game.
 
RE-TWEETS
1) FGCU has already played four overtime games, setting a single-season program record. In its entire pre-D-I history (2002-06), FGCU played three total OT contests.
2) Six times this year FGCU has had a game decided by five points or less. The Eagles are 3-3 in such games, and 6-6 in games decided by 10 points or less.
3) The Eagles have secured at least 30 points in the paint in every game this year except one (Florida, 26).
4) FGCU had a season-low four turnovers vs. USC Upstate, the sixth single-digit turnover game of the year. The single-season program record is eight set last year.
5) Demetris Morant was a late scratch last Thursday (right leg). X-rays last Friday were negative, he did not play on Saturday and is a game-time decision vs. KSU.
 
LOW-POST PRESENCE
If the lengthy 6-9 Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) is able to play, it will give the Eagles a big boost in the low blocks as FGCU by far leads the A-Sun with 41.7 rebounds per game. Kennesaw State, meanwhile, is last in the A-Sun in rebounding at 33.2 per game. The Eagles rank 6th in the nation in total rebounds with 793 and are 20th in the country in rebounds per game. Eleven of FGCU's 12 wins this year have come when it has out-rebounded its opponent, and KSU is 1-12 when being out-rebounded.
 
MILESTONE MARKS
FGCU enters Thursday's game with an all-time record (since 2002-03) of 250-180 (.581). The Eagles also have their all-time A-Sun record over .500 as FGCU is 74-73 in A-Sun contests. The Eagles had not been over .500 all-time in A-Sun games since they were 4-3 in their inaugural A-Sun and D-I season in 2007-08.
 
A-SUN RANKS
In addition to rebounding and points allowed, FGCU leads the A-Sun in field-goal percentage defense (40.1), 3-point percentage defense (26.4) and scoring margin (+9.1).
 
AMONG THE BEST
That 3-point percentage defense has become a staple of the Eagles as FGCU is ranked 2nd in the nation, just behind just Akron (.260). The Eagles finished 5th in the country in that category last year (24.6 percent). KSU enters with the A-Sun worst 3-point shooting percentage at .350.
 
A-SUN SUCCESS
Since the start of the 2012-13 season, FGCU boasts a 41-12 (.774) record in A-Sun games – seven more wins than any other team in the league (North Florida, 34).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records in 2+ years under the direction of Dooley:
 
Leading At The Half: 44-3 (.936)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 20-2 (.909)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 46-5 (.902)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 34-4 (.895)
Scoring At Least 70 Points: 36-5 (.878)
 
PLAYER QUICK HITS
^ Freshman Reggie Reid (Harlem, Ga./Harlem HS) ranks 2nd among all freshmen nationally in assist rate at 35.6 percent – the percentage of field goals made by a team that a player assists on while in the game. Reid is ranked 24th nationally in the category and is only behind Oklahoma State's Jawun Evans at 37.1 percent among all freshmen.
^ Redshirt senior Julian DeBose (Washington, D.C./Rice/St. John College HS) will be looking to reach double-figure points for the third-straight game for the first time since the first three games of the season.
^ After hitting just 11 3-pointers in the 11 games before FGCU's current six-game winning streak, redshirt senior Filip Cvjeticanin (Zagreb, Croatia/American School of Madrid) has knocked down 15 triples in the last six contests. Cvjeticanin is tied for 4th on the program's all-time 3-pointers made list with 174, and 3rd among all D-I players. The D-I record is held by 2014 graduate Thompson with 219. Cvjeticanin is five 3-pointers shy of moving into 3rd place all-time (Bryan Crislip, 2002-05) and 2nd place on the D-I list (Christophe Varidel, 2010-13). Ryan Hopkins (2002-05) holds the all-time record with 355.
^ Morant has 66 career blocks, just 14 shy of moving into 2nd place on the program's all-time list. Chase Fieler (2010-14) owns the all-time record with 134 rejections.
 
ON RECORD PACE
FGCU is on pace for several D-I and all-time program records this year:
 
Rebounds Per Game: 41.7 – Would set the D-I record, besting each of the previous two years (38.1 in 2014-15 and 36.6 in 2013-14).
Field-Goal Percentage: 46.6 – Would be the 2nd-best all-time, just behind the record of 46.7 percent in 2013-14.
Blocks Per Game: 4.4 – Would shatter the best mark all-time as no team has ever even averaged 4 blocks per game in a season.
Scoring Margin: +9.1 – Would be the best in D-I history, besting the previous mark of +6.1 in 2012-13.
 
BREAKOUT SEASONS
Redshirt junior Marc-Eddy Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) tied the D-I program single-season record of seven double-doubles held by Chase Fieler in 2013-14 with team-bests of 18 points and 13 rebounds last Thursday night against NJIT. Norelia is 2nd in the A-Sun in rebounding at 8.7 per outing, 7th in field-goal percentage (.520) and 10th in scoring with 15.5 points per game. Norelia has come one rebound short of a double-double on three other occasions already this year as well. The all-time single-season program record for double-doubles is nine, held by Robinson Tisme in the program's first season in 2002-03. Norelia has been named A-Sun Player of the Week and A-Sun Co-Player of the Week this year.
 
After averaging just 3.3 points per game last year, sophomore Christian Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) has catapulted to 13.7 per game this year – an increase of 10.4 – and has led the Eagles in scoring seven times. Not only is the 6-5 Terrell getting the job done on the offensive end, he also enters Thursday's contest with the third-most rebounds on the team this year with 86.
 
YOUNG, TALENTED AND DEEP
FGCU has just two seniors on its roster, and so far this year 82 percent of its scoring, 87 percent of its rebounding (excluding team rebounds) and 87 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 teams in the nation with more are Boston University (12) and Georgia Southern (11). 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 (or tied) the team in scoring.
 
R-Jr. Norelia (8): 34
R-Fr. Johnson (3): 26
So. Terrell (7): 25
R-Sr. DeBose (1): 20
R-Sr. Cvjeticanin (1): 18
Fr. Reid: 18
R-So. Antravious Simmons: 17
Fr. Rayjon Tucker: 15
R-So. Kevin Mickle: 14
R-Jr. Morant: 11
 
In a further testament to the youthful and talented group, Reid leads all A-Sun freshmen in assists per game (4), Terrell leads all A-Sun sophomores in points per game (13.7), Simmons (Miami, Fla./VCU/South Miami HS) leads all A-Sun sophomores in rebounds per game (5.3) and Norelia is second among all A-Sun juniors in rebounds per game (8.7).
 
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
FGCU played a challenging non-conference schedule as all but one of FGCU's seven losses have come against top-150 RPI teams, including two losses to top-20 teams (#7 Texas A&M, 75-65; #20 Florida, 70-50) and three to top-50 teams (#46 South Dakota State, 56-52) – and two of those three losses came by 10 points or less. FGCU has also dropped an 85-75 decision at #115 Ohio, a 66-63 contest to #147 Louisiana Tech and an 89-81 overtime outing against #150 South Dakota.
 
GOLDEN SUMMER
DeBose won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the World University Games (WUG) this summer in South Korea ... was one of only two players (SMU's Nic Moore) on the team not from Kansas University ... finished the tournament averaging 4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 10.8 minutes per contest ... scored a team-high 18 points in the USA's final group-round game against Switzerland ... connected on 50 percent (13-26) of his shots from the floor during the WUG, including 3-8 from 3-point range ... added nine offensive and nine defensive rebounds, with the nine offensive boards representing the second-most by any guard on the roster  ... also contributed six steals and a block as Team USA won its games by an average of 20.3 points.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will travel to Nashville on Friday before facing Lipscomb (4-16, 0-3 A-Sun) on Saturday at 5 p.m. Eastern. The Bisons have lost eight in row and will host Stetson (7-12, 1-3 A-Sun) Thursday evening.
 
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 113-83 (.577), and in his 2+ years with FGCU is 56-31 (.644).
 
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.