BOCA RATON, Fla. – Looking for its third-straight win, the FGCU men's basketball team faces its final Division-I non-conference opponent of the regular season Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Eagles travel across Alligator Alley to take on FAU.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
Although only separated by roughly two hours, Wednesday will mark the first time since FGCU's second D-I season in 2008-09 that it has faced FAU.
 
FGCU enters the game ranked in the top-10 nationally in each of the following statistics: field goal percentage: 4th, 52.1; 3-point percentage defense: 4th, 27.3; 3-point percentage: 6th, 42.2; total assists: 8th, 243. All of those percentages would be single-season program records, with the total assists just behind the pace of 602 set by the inaugural 2002-03 team.
 
The Eagles will again be without redshirt senior Marc-Eddy Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) for the fourth-straight game due to personal reasons. The forward is a Preseason All-ASUN Conference selection and team's leading returning scorer (17.1) and rebounder (9.3) from a season ago. After sitting out the game against Florida National on Dec. 22 with a left ankle injury suffered at Louisiana Tech, freshman RaySean Scott Jr. (Compton, Calif./Compton HS) is expected to be dressed for the contest with FAU.
 
TWEETABLES
1) FGCU has made 30 3-pointers the last three games, the most triples in three-straight games in the program's non-conference history.
2) If the Eagles win their final two non-league games, they will set a program record with 11 victories prior to ASUN action starting (record: 10 in 2014-15).
3) FAU was a member of the ASUN from 1993-2006. FGCU entered the ASUN in 2007.
4) FGCU set single-game D-I program records with 30 assists and 68 points in the paint (tied for the record) in their last game – a 107-50 win over Florida National.
5) Demetris Morant posted his second-straight double-double against Florida National with 14 points and 11 rebounds (12 and 10 in the 1st half).
 
SCOUTING FAU
^ Despite its record being below .500, FAU has arguably the biggest upset in college basketball this year as the Owls went to Columbus and knocked off Ohio State (now 10-3) earlier this month in overtime, 79-77.
 
^ The Owls have played only two games since that win over the Buckeyes – a 76-56 loss at Miami and a 77-57 win over Webber International on Dec. 21.
 
^ FAU has eight players who average at least 7.5 points per game, led by 11.1 from Clemson transfer Adonis Filer. Ronald Delph is the lone other Owl in double-figure scoring with 10.9 per outing and also leads the team with 9.1 rebounds per game.
 
^ Despite having eight new additions to the roster, FAU returns nearly 60 percent of last year's scoring and 63 percent of last year's rebounding.
 
YOUTHFUL EAGLES
FGCU 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.
 
ON RECORD PACE
Through the first 14 games of the season, redshirt junior Brandon Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) has totaled 233 points – 17 more than what Norelia had at the same juncture last year when he set the program's single-season scoring record with 597.
 
Norelia also set the single-season program record with 234 made field goals last year. Through 14 games this year, Goodwin has 84 made field goals compared with Norelia's 83 at the same juncture last season.
 
FLORIDA NATIONAL PERFORMANCE
In addition to the aforementioned records for points in the paint and assists, FGCU's 107 points against Florida National were the 3rd-most in the program's D-I era and 2nd-most in a regulation game. The Eagles also connected at a 66.7-percent clip (44-66) from the floor, the 2nd-best performance in a game in D-I program history.
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
The first official RPI rankings were released in mid-December, and FGCU currently has an RPI – which fluctuates drastically this early in the year – of 98 (has been as high as 49). The Eagles have already played three top-20 RPI opponents (Baylor (2), Florida (5) and UT Arlington (17)) 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: 82) (more info later in this release).
 
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, 30.7 percent of FGCU's total points have come off 3-pointers.
 
The Eagles are on pace for a single-season program record as they are averaging 7.8 made 3s per game (current record: 7.8 in 2011-12).
 
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.
 
#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 (9 – includes 3 ties): 26
Zach Johnson (3 – includes 2 ties): 24
Rayjon Tucker: 23
Antravious Simmons (2 – includes 1 tie): 18
Christian Terrell (2): 17
Demetris Morant (1): 16
RaySean Scott Jr.: 14
Kevin Mickle: 13
Marc-Eddy Norelia: 13
 
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records under the direction 4th-year head coach Joe Dooley:
 
Leading At The Half: 56-4 (.933)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 43-4 (.915)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 62-12 (.838)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 47-11 (.810)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 30-4 (.882)
 
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) 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.
5) FGCU has already won two games that have been decided by one point for the first time in single-season program history (three one-point games total, tied with 2011-12 for the most).
 
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. 27):
 
1) Florida: 82
2) Miami: 78
3) FGCU: 74
4) Florida State: 70
5) North Florida: 66
6) FIU: 48
7) Jacksonville: 47
8) UCF: 46
9) Stetson: 36
     Bethune-Cookman
     USF
12) FAU: 31
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.
 
GAME-WINNERS THIS YEAR
FGCU has already hit a pair of game-winning shots this year. The first came on Nov. 25 when Christian Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) hit a contested layup with 2.4 seconds left in overtime to give the Eagles a 68-67 win against Long Beach State.
 
The second came on Dec. 20 when Goodwin hit a floater in the paint with 12 seconds remaining to hand FGCU a 79-78 win at Louisiana Tech. LA Tech entered the contest with a dominant record of 71-2 at home since February of 2012 – with the 97.3 winning percentage over that time being the best in the nation.
 
LOCKING IN ON D
Since Dooley took over FGCU in 2013-14, FGCU has held 32 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.
 
RECAPPING MICHIGAN STATE
With 1.6 seconds remaining in a 78-77 game on Nov. 20 at Michigan State, Terrell 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 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: 9-5, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 154-153, 79-79 ASUN
Last 4 Years: 100-54, 46-18 ASUN
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will conclude its non-conference schedule with a home New Year's Eve matinee against Florida Tech on Dec. 31 at 1 p.m. The Division-II member is 9-4 on the year. The Eagles will then have a week off before beginning ASUN action at Stetson on Jan. 7 in a rematch of last year's title game.

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 131-95 (.580), and in his 3+ years with FGCU is 74-43 (.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.