RUSTON, La. – The FGCU men's basketball team (7-5) wraps up a short, but challenging, two-game road trip Tuesday night at 7:30 Eastern (6:30 local) against Louisiana Tech (7-4) as the Eagles are looking to stop a two-game losing streak.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
The game is the back end of a home-and-home series started last year at Alico Arena on Dec. 22. In that contest, FGCU held a 36-32 halftime lead, but eventually fell just short, 66-63. It marked just one of four occurrences (55-4) in Joe Dooley's 3 years at the helm of the Eagles that FGCU lost when leading at the half.
 
The Eagles will be looking to avenge that loss, but will once again be without the services of redshirt senior Marc-Eddy Norelia as the Preseason All-ASUN selection did not travel with the team due to personal reasons.
 
FGCU enters the contest ranked 9th in the nation with a field goal percentage of 50.8. The program single-season record for field goal percentage was set last year (47.9), and the 2nd-highest single-season performance came in Dooley's first year in 2013-14 (46.7).
 
TWEETABLES
1) Louisiana Tech (23-10, Vegas 16 Tournament) is the 7th opponent already this season for FGCU which won at least 20 games and played in the postseason last year.
2) FGCU scored 80 points in an 84-80 setback to La Salle on Saturday, just the 4th time under Dooley that the Eagles have lost when scoring at least 80 (29-4).
3) FGCU knocked down 12 3-pointers at La Salle, the most makes versus a Division-I non-conference opponent since it made 13 against Longwood in 2011-12.
4) The Eagles were hampered with foul trouble and a shortened bench against La Salle, and finished with a season-low 24 points in the paint.
5) Over the last two games, FGCU – which last year had a single-season program record nine single-digit turnover games – has a minus-24 differential in points off turnovers.
 
YOUTHFUL EAGLES
FGCU – which has posted four-straight 20-win seasons – is getting the job done again this year with a youthful group as 85 percent of its total points, 74 percent of its rebounds and 93 percent of its assists have come from non-seniors.
 
SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH
^ Louisiana Tech has a dominant record of 71-2 at home since February of 2012. The 97.3 winning percentage over that time is the best in the nation. The Bulldogs have won their last 26 home non-conference games, and have a 13-game home winning streak overall – tied for the 12th-longest active streak in the country.
 
^ LA Tech is 7-4 on the year, but has statistically played the 2nd-easiest schedule in the nation to this point. The Bulldogs, like the Eagles, have posted four-straight 20-win seasons and made postseason appearances each year. They were picked to finish 7th in the Conference USA Preseason Poll this year.
 
^ C-USA Preseason Team member Erik McCree leads the Bulldogs with 16.7 points and 9 rebounds per game. He leads a quartet of LA Tech double-figure scorers as he is joined by Jacobi Boykins (15.8), Jalen Harris (11.9) and Omar Sherman (10.2). DaQuan Bracey paces the team with 5.8 assists per game.
 
LA TECH MATCHUP
Both teams shoot the ball extremely well, as in addition to FGCU's aforementioned 50.8 field goal percentage, LA Tech connects at a 48.3-percent rate.
 
On defense, FGCU enters the contest ranked 4th in the country by holding opponents to only 26.9 percent from 3-point range. LA Tech, meanwhile, limits foes to just 30.2 percent from beyond the arc to rank 43rd in the nation.
 
LA SALLE TAKEAWAYS
Redshirt junior Brandon Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) led FGCU in scoring for the eighth time through the first 12 games of the year with a season-high 26 points at La Salle – the most points any FGCU player has scored in a game this year.
 
Closely behind Goodwin was sophomore Rayjon Tucker (Charlotte, N.C./Northside Christian Academy) with a career-high 23 points – the first time he has scored at least 20 points in a game.
 
Both players also secured season-high rebounding totals (seven).
 
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, 29.7 percent of FGCU's total points have come off 3-pointers.
 
FGCU is ranked 31st in the nation by shooting 40.1 percent from 3-point range, which would be a single-season program record (current record: 37.4 percent in 2011-12). The Eagles are also nearing a single-season program record as they are averaging 7.6 made 3s per game (current record: 7.8/game in 2011-12).
 
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.
 
#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, 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 (8 – includes 3 ties): 26
Zach Johnson (3 – includes 2 ties): 24
Rayjon Tucker: 23
Antravious Simmons (1 tie): 18
Christian Terrell (2): 17
Demetris Morant (1): 16
RaySean Scott Jr.: 14
Kevin Mickle: 13
Marc-Eddy Norelia: 13
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The first official RPI rankings were released two weeks ago, and FGCU currently has an RPI – which fluctuates drastically this early in the year – of 124 (has been as high as 49). The Eagles have already played three top-30 RPI opponents (Baylor (2), Florida (4) and UT Arlington (28)) 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 (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: 60-12 (.833)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 46-11 (.807)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 29-4 (.879)
 
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), field goals made (47), field goal percentage (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.
4) Demetris Morant pulled down the 4th-most rebounds in single-game D-I program history (most in a regulation game) with 17 against Georgia Southern on Dec. 13.
 
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. 19):
 
1) Florida: 81
2) Miami: 77
3) FGCU: 72
4) Florida State: 69
5) North Florida: 66
6) FIU: 47
7) Jacksonville: 46
8) UCF: 45
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 Antravious 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, Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) was a unanimous selection to the Preseason All-Conference Team, redshirt sophomore Zach 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: 7-5, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 152-153, 79-79 ASUN
Last 4 Years: 98-54, 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 71.8 points per game.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will face a quick turnaround when it welcomes Florida National to Alico Arena for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Thursday, Dec. 22. It will be the final game for the Eagles before Christmas, and they will return to action at FAU on Dec. 28.

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 129-95 (.576), and in his 3 years with FGCU is 72-43 (.626).
 
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.