DUNK CITY, Fla. – Looking for its sixth-consecutive win, the FGCU men's basketball team plays its second game in three days Sunday when the Eagles welcome cross-state foe FIU to Alico Arena for an 8:15 p.m. tipoff.
 
OPENING TIP
The contest is tipping off later in the day due to Alico Arena hosting a pair of commencement ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. It will be FGCU's second game of a three-game-in-six-day stretch at home. The Eagles commenced the run Friday night with a 73-69 victory over Siena, and will conclude it on Tuesday versus Georgia Southern at 7 p.m.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
FGCU has averaged 62.6 percent (109-174) from the floor its last three games, including consecutive 60-percent games versus Ave Maria and Georgia Southern for the first time in program history. The Eagles enter the contest ranked 6th in the nation with a field goal percentage of 51.7 on the year.
 
The program single-season record for field goal percentage was set last year (47.9), and the 2nd-highest single-season performance came in 2013-14 (46.7). Much of FGCU's production during its winning streak – and in particular the last three games – has come in the paint. The Eagles have produced an astonishing 170 points in the paint (56.6 per game) over the past three contests, including 18 total dunks (6 per game).
 
TWEETABLES
1) With a win, FGCU would claim a sixth-consecutive non-conference victory for the first time in the program's D-I history (current record: five straight to open 2014-15).
2) The Eagles will be looking to push their all-time D-I record (151-151) above .500 for the first time since they were 1-0 to start their inaugural 2007-08 season.
3) FGCU will be in search of its 11th-straight home win dating back to last year, which would be tied for the 17th-longest streak in the nation.
4) Over the last three games, FGCU has trailed for a total of exactly 2 minutes (0:00 vs. Ave Maria, 0:41 at Georgia Southern, 1:19 vs. Siena).
5) FGCU has held 17-point leads with about 10 minutes remaining in each of its last two games, but won by just three and four points, respectively, against Georgia Southern and Siena.
 
HOME SUCCESS
In addition to the aforementioned home winning streak, FGCU is 64-11 (.853) at Alico Arena since 2012-13. The Eagles are 5-0 at home so far this year, went 16-4 last year, 13-4 in 2014-15, 15-2 in 2013-14 and 15-1 in 2012-13.
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The first official RPI rankings were released this week, and FGCU currently boasts an RPI of 58. The Eagles have already played three top-20 RPI opponents (Baylor (1), Florida (4) and UT Arlington (20)) and gone 1-2 against the group.
 
FGCU was down just one point with 2 minutes to play at Baylor before falling short, 81-72, lost to Florida despite holding a five-point lead with 15 minutes remaining and overcame a double-figure 2nd-half deficit to defeat UT Arlington convincingly, 85-72. Additionally, FGCU controversially lost, 78-77, at then-#13 Michigan State (RPI 61) (more info later in this release).
 
3-POINT DEFENSE
After finishing last year ranked 12th in the nation in 3-point percentage defense at 30.4, the Eagles are ranked 12th again this season, limiting opponents to just 27 percent from beyond the arc.
 
SCOUTING FIU
^ FIU hasn't played since a 70-54 loss at nationally-ranked South Carolina last Sunday.
^ The Panthers and Eagles have a pair of similar opponents already this year. FIU defeated Ave Maria, 89-72, while the Eagles claimed a 120-60 triumph. The Panthers also defeated Binghamton, 74-57, with FGCU securing a 69-53 win over the Bearcats.
^ FIU gets 60.2 percent of its total points from 2-point baskets, ranking as the 10th-highest percentage in the nation. Conversely, the Panthers receive just 23.4 percent of their total points from 3-point baskets, ranking as the 303rd-worst percentage in the country.
^ FIU is a veterans team as the Panthers have an average of 2.35 years played to rank tied for the 13th most-experienced team in the country.
^ Donte McGill leads the Panthers with 19.1 points per game, while Eric Nottage adds 12.2 points per outing. Alabama graduate transfer Michael Kessens, a 6-9 forward, averages 14.5 points per game and ranks 5th in the nation with 11.9 rebounds per contest.
^ In last year's meeting with FIU, FGCU erased a 13-point 2nd-half deficit to claim an 84-76 overtime win in Miami.
 
3-POINT IMPROVEMENT
Last year, just 20 percent of FGCU's total points came from 3-pointers – ranking 344th in the nation out of 351 D-I teams – as the Eagles shot 35.3 percent from long range. So far this season, 28.6 percent of FGCU's total points have come off 3-pointers.
 
FGCU opened the year with four-straight performances of 40 percent or better from the 3-point line – the first time at any point of a season that has occurred in the program's non-conference history against D-I opponents.
 
FGCU ranks 14th in the nation and leads the ASUN by shooting 41.6 percent from 3-point range. FGCU is close to being on pace for a program record as it is averaging 7.4 made 3s per game (current record: 7.8/game in 2011-12).
 
#DEPTHCITY
Last year, FGCU had 10 different players reach double-figure points in a game (tied for the 3rd-most in the nation). Already this year in just nine games, the Eagles have had nine players reach double-figure points (Reggie Reid: 9-point game). Below is a list of players who have scored 10 or more points in a game, how many times they have led (or tied) the team in scoring and their season high.
 
Brandon Goodwin (5 – includes two ties): 24
Zach Johnson (2 – includes one tie): 24
Antravious Simmons (1 tie): 18
Christian Terrell (2): 17
Demetris Morant (1): 16
Rayjon Tucker: 14
RaySean Scott Jr.: 14
Kevin Mickle: 13
Marc-Eddy Norelia: 10
 
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records under the direction of Joe Dooley:
 
Leading At The Half: 54-4 (.931)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 41-4 (.911)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 59-11 (.843)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 46-11 (.807)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 28-3 (.903)
 
RE-TWEETS
1) FGCU posted its largest comeback in the program's D-I era against UT Arlington on Nov. 16 as the Eagles erased a 16-point deficit (one shy of matching the all-time mark set in 2005-06).
2) The Eagles posted D-I program records in points (120), FGs (47), FG% (67.1), assists (29) and win margin (60) in its 120-60 victory over NAIA member Ave Maria last Tuesday.
3) The 120 points (6th-most in the nation this year) were the most by any ASUN team since Lipscomb scored 121 in November of 2008.
 
MOST WINS IN FLORIDA
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, FGCU has the 3rd-most wins among D-I schools in the state of Florida (entering games on Dec. 7):
 
1) Florida: 80
2) Miami: 76
3) FGCU: 71
4) Florida State: 67
5) North Florida: 65
6) FIU: 47
7) Jacksonville: 44
8) UCF: 43
9) Stetson: 35
     Bethune-Cookman: 35
11) USF: 34
12) FAU: 30
13) Florida A&M: 25
 
FGCU is the only D-I team in the state of Florida which has posted three-straight 20-win seasons (four-consecutive for the Eagles). As FGCU has moved among some of the preeminent teams in the state, it has done so with Florida talent. Of returning team members from last year's squad, Florida natives were responsible for 68 percent of FGCU's points and 70 percent of the Green and Blue's rebounds.
 
RECAPPING MICHIGAN STATE
With 1.6 seconds remaining in a 78-77 game on Nov. 20 at Michigan State, Terrell (Jackonsville, Fla./Providence HS) threw an in-bounds pass from under the Spartans' basket to Simmons (Miami, Fla./VCU/South Miami HS) at the FGCU free throw line. However, despite the ball not being touched by any player, the game clock hit zero just as Simmons touched the ball.
 
The play was designed for him to take a dribble and attempt a game-winning layup, but when he heard the horn as soon as he caught the ball – after time had already expired – he threw the ball toward the basket and did not make the shot.
 
The head referee Bo Boroski, Big Ten officials, ASUN Conference officials and FGCU Athletics officials all issued statements regarding the incident, with the Big Ten acknowledging an on-court official started the clock too early; however, the final score of 78-77 would remain.
 
View all statements by clicking here.
 
ASUN PRESEASON FAVORITES | Complete Poll And Teams
The Eagles received six of eight 1st-place votes in the ASUN Preseason Coaches Poll and garnered 62 points to finish 12 ahead of 2nd-place North Florida, which collected the other two 1st-place votes. NJIT was picked 3rd, just three points behind the Ospreys, while Lipscomb was slotted 4th. Stetson, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State and USC Upstate rounded out the poll in spots 5-8, respectively.
 
In addition to the team honor, redshirt senior Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference Team, redshirt sophomore Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) was also a preseason team pick and redshirt senior Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
ANOTHER DANCE?
^ FGCU posted a record 31-point win, 96-65, in the First Four this past March over fellow 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
^ The Eagles will be looking for their fifth postseason appearance in only six years of D-I eligibility: 2013 NCAA, 2014 NIT, 2015 CIT, 2016 NCAA. FGCU is believed to be the only D-I team in NCAA history to make four postseason appearances in its first five years of eligibility.
 
POSTSEASON NUMBERS
With the win over FDU, FGCU secured its third NCAA Tournament victory in four years. The Eagles are the only current ASUN member which has won an NCAA Tournament game, and are responsible for three of the league's seven all-time NCAA Tournament victories, dating back to the ASUN's initial appearance in March Madness in 1981.
 
Additionally, FGCU is one of only two teams all-time with three wins in just five NCAA Tournament contests, with the other being Cleveland State. The only schools with more than three NCAA victories all-time have played at least nine games to get those four wins.
 
IN THE TOP 10 PERCENT
FGCU is one of just 31 teams in the nation to have won at least 20 games and played in the postseason each of the last four years, ranking the Eagles among the top-10 percent of clubs in the nation (351 D-I teams).
 
Furthermore, FGCU is one of just eight schools in the country to have its men's and women's teams win at least 20 games in four-straight seasons: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, BYU, Baylor, UConn and Saint Mary's.
 
BAHAMIAN SUMMER
FGCU spent Aug. 5-10 at the Atlantis Resort in the Bahamas, playing three exhibition games and bonding as a team off the court. The Eagles won their three games by scores of 92-89, 113-58 and 87-69. In their first game, because of foul trouble and an injury-shortened bench, the Green and Blue finished the contest with just three players (watch).
 
THE GROWTH OF FGCU
After starting their D-I transition with five-straight losing seasons, the Eagles have now posted four-consecutive 20-win seasons. After not finishing higher than 6th place in the ASUN the first five years, FGCU has finished no worse than a tie for 2nd each of the past four seasons.
 
2007-08: 10-21, 6-10 ASUN (T-8th)
2008-09: 11-20, 7-13 ASUN (9th)
2009-10: 8-21, 5-15 ASUN (T-10th)
2010-11: 10-20, 7-13 ASUN (7th)
2011-12: 15-17, 8-10 ASUN (T-6th)
2012-13: 26-11, 13-5 ASUN (2nd)
2013-14: 22-13, 14-4 ASUN (T-1st)
2014-15: 22-11, 11-3 ASUN (2nd)
2015-16: 21-14, 8-6 ASUN (T-2nd)
2016-17: 6-3, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 151-151, 79-79 ASUN
Last 4 Years: 97-52, 46-18 ASUN
 
LOCKING IN ON D
Since Dooley took over FGCU in 2013-14, FGCU has held 31 teams to 60 points or fewer. The Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13 held 13 opponents to 60 points or fewer, but prior to that – in five seasons of D-I history – FGCU teams had only held opponents to 60 points or fewer 20 times.
 
The Eagles have led the ASUN in scoring defense in two of Dooley's three years with FGCU and finished 2nd in the other season.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU faces Georgia Southern (4-5) for the second time in 10 days on Tuesday night at 7 inside Alico Arena. The two sides met in Statesboro, Ga., this past Sunday, with FGCU claiming an 85-82 win despite being up by 17 points late in the 2nd half. Georgia Southern dropped an 86-49 decision at Minnesota on Friday night in its only game between the two with the Eagles.

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 4th season with the Eagles in 2016-17 and has coached eight all-conference selections over his first three campaigns. Dooley guided FGCU to a 4th-straight 20-win season and 4th-consecutive postseason appearance in 2015-16 as the Eagles claimed the ASUN Tournament Championship and won their First Four NCAA Tournament game in 31-point record-setting fashion. He led FGCU to its first ASUN Regular-Season Championship and first trip to the NIT in 2014, and in 2015 he led the Eagles to 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 8th season overall as a head coach and has a record of 128-93 (.579), and in his 3+ years with FGCU is 71-41 (.634).
 
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.