PHILADELPHIA – Looking to bounce back from its first home loss of the season, the FGCU men's basketball team begins a challenging two-game road trip on Saturday at 2 p.m. against La Salle.
 
OPENING TIP
The game is the back end of a home-and-home series started last year at Alico Arena on New Year's Eve Day. In that contest, FGCU never trailed and claimed an 86-77 win over the Atlantic 10 Conference member.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
FGCU uncharacteristically shot just 39.2 percent (20-51) from the floor on Tuesday night in a 72-59 loss to Georgia Southern which snapped the Eagles' six-game winning streak. Despite the poor shooting performance, FGCU still enters Saturday's contest ranked 7th in the nation with a field goal percentage of 51.2.
 
The program single-season record for field goal percentage was set last year (47.9), and the 2nd-highest single-season performance came in Joe Dooley's first year in 2013-14 (46.7). Over the last five games, FGCU has produced 249 points in the paint (49.6 per game), including 24 total dunks (4.8 per game).
 
TWEETABLES
1) FGCU (15 seed) and La Salle (13 seed) both reached the Sweet Sixteen in 2013, marking the first time in the same NCAA Tournament two teams seeded 13 or lower have reached that round.
2) The Eagles remain the only 15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to have reached the Sweet Sixteen, and did so with their patented Dunk City attack.
3) Demetris Morant grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds against Georgia Southern Tuesday – the most rebounds in a regulation Division-I game in program history.
4) After trailing for just 2 minutes over its previous four games, FGCU led for just 2 minutes and 36 seconds versus Georgia Southern on Tuesday.
5) FGCU shot just 16.7 percent (4-24) from 3-point range against Georgia Southern; the Eagles entered the contest ranked 9th in the nation on the year at 41.9 percent from beyond the arc.
 
SCOUTING LA SALLE
^ The Explorers are coming off a 93-78 loss to Georgetown at the Hoophall Miami Invitational on Saturday. La Salle – which has an RPI of 110 (FGCU 117) – has played a tough schedule to this point as the Explorers' previous contest before Georgetown was against fellow Philadelphia school and #1 Villanova. La Salle battled the Wildcats and trailed by just four with 75 seconds left before Villanova pulled away for an 89-79 win.
 
^ As a team, La Salle ranks in the top 40 nationally in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.40, 28th), 3-point percentage (40.1, T-33rd) and points per game (82.5, 38th).
 
^ Senior Jordan Price and junior B.J. Johnson have been the top two scorers all season for La Salle. The duo is averaging a combined 35.9 points per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from 3-point range. Johnson is shooting 61.2 percent from the floor over his last five games including 56.5 percent from 3-point range) and is averaging 18.6 points per game over that span.
 
LA SALLE MATCHUP
La Salle ranks 249th in the nation in terms of percentage of total points which come from 2-point baskets (47.3 percent). FGCU, meanwhile, ranks 51st in the country in the same category with 56 percent of its total points coming from 2-point baskets.
 
All four of La Salle's losses this year have come when the Explorers have been out-rebounded. FGCU leads the ASUN Conference and ranks 49th in the nation with a rebound margin of +5.8.
 
La Salle has connected on 73 3-pointers through eight games, good for a 9.1 per-game average which ranks 51st in the country. FGCU enters the contest ranked 6th in the country by holding opponents to just 26.3 percent from 3-point range.
 
LAST YEAR vs. LA SALLE
FGCU scored the first eight points of the game and never looked back as the Eagles placed five players in double-figure scoring on its way to the nine-point victory. Antravious Simmons recorded his first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Simmons (Miami, Fla./VCU/South Miami HS) scored six of FGCU's first eight points as La Salle began the game by turning the ball over on its first four possessions. That set the tone for the duration of the contest as the Eagles built a lead as large as 19, 37-18, in the 1st half and never led by fewer than six points the rest of the way. Due to transfers sitting out and injuries, La Salle played the game with just six scholarship players.
 
NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK: BRANDON GOODWIN
For the second time already this year, redshirt junior Brandon Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) was named the ASUN Men's Basketball Newcomer of the Week, league officials announced Monday afternoon. Goodwin averaged 16 points, three assists and 2.5 rebounds per game, helping lead the Eagles to a pair of wins over Siena and FIU last week.
 
The UCF transfer began the week with 14 points and three assists in a 73-69 victory over Siena last Friday. He followed it up with a team-best 18 points on Sunday in an 82-63 rout of cross-state foe FIU.
 
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 percent of FGCU's total points have come off 3-pointers.
 
The Eagles 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 is nearing a single-season program record as it is averaging 7.2 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 11 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 (7 – includes two ties): 24
Zach Johnson (3 – 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: 13
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The first official RPI rankings were released last week, and FGCU currently has an RPI – which fluctuates drastically this early in the year – of 117 (was as high as 49 last Friday). The Eagles have already played three top-20 RPI opponents (Baylor (2), Florida (5) 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 76) (more info later in this release).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records under the direction Dooley:
 
Leading At The Half: 55-4 (.932)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 42-4 (.913)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 60-11 (.845)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 46-11 (.807)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 29-3 (.906)
 
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 on Nov. 29.
3) The 120 points (9th-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. 16):
 
1) Florida: 80
2) Miami: 76
3) FGCU: 72
4) Florida State: 68
5) North Florida: 66
6) FIU: 47
7) Jacksonville: 45
8) UCF: 44
9) Stetson: 36
     Bethune-Cookman: 36
11) USF: 35
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, Christian Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) threw an in-bounds pass from under the Spartans' basket to Simmons 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 Marc-Eddy Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference Team, redshirt sophomore Zach Johnson 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: 7-4, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 152-152, 79-79 ASUN
Last 4 Years: 98-53, 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. This year, the Eagles are ranked 2nd in the ASUN, holding opponents to just 70.6 points per game.
 
NEXT UP
Following the trip to La Salle, the Eagles will remain on the road and head to Ruston, La., to face Louisiana Tech (6-4) on Tuesday, Dec. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern (6:30 p.m. local).

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 129-94 (.578), and in his 3+ years with FGCU is 72-42 (.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.