DUNK CITY, Fla. – Winners of three in a row, the FGCU men's basketball team (10-5) concludes the non-conference portion of its regular season with a New Year's Eve matinee as the Eagles welcome Division-II member Florida Tech (9-4) to Alico Arena on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tipoff.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
The game will be the final home contest for the Eagles until they face ASUN Conference foe USC Upstate on Jan. 19. With a victory, FGCU would set a program regular-season record with its 11th non-conference win, surpassing the 10-6 mark posted by the 2014-15 squad.
 
FGCU enters the game ranked in the top-10 nationally in each of the following statistics: field goal percentage: 4th, 51.9; 3-point percentage defense: 6th, 28; 3-point percentage: 7th, 41.8; total assists: 10th, 253. 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.
 
After missing the last four games – and not traveling with the team to any contests – redshirt senior Marc-Eddy Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) practiced with the team for the first time in more than two weeks on Thursday. However, his status to play in Saturday's game remains uncertain. 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.
 
TWEETABLES
1) With a victory, FGCU would have two separate 4+ game winning streaks in Division-I non-conference history for the first time (6-game streak Nov. 23-Dec. 11).
2) With its 75-62 win at FAU on Wednesday, FGCU's all-time D-I record is now two games over .500 (155-153) for the first time in program history.
3) Each of FGCU's 15 players incredibly has a positive plus-minus ratio, and everyone is at least +10 on the year.
4) Demetris Morant is averaging a double-double (12.2 points, 10.8 rebounds) over the past five games, and has secured three of his five career double-doubles in that time.
5) FGCU held FAU to just 62 points, the second-fewest points the Eagles have allowed against a D-I opponent this year.
 
SCOUTING FLORIDA TECH
^ Florida Tech is an NCAA Division-II member of the Sunshine State Conference. The Panthers, based in Melbourne, are 9-4 on the year heading into a league game Friday evening at Lynn in Boca Raton.
 
^ FIT will be the final of three non-D-I opponents for FGCU this year. The Eagles previously defeated Ave Maria (120-60) and Florida National (107-50). The game does not affect FGCU's RPI, but all other statistics – including the win or loss – are official.
 
^ Jordan Majors and Sam Daniel are a lethal two-headed offensive attack for Florida Tech as each is averaging better than 21 points per game: 21.6 for Majors, 21.5 for Daniel. Daniel also leads the Panthers with 8.5 rebounds per game.
 
^ Patrick Anderson (13.6 points per game) is the only other FIT double-figure scorer. The Panthers are averaging 88.5 points per game on the year, but allow 83.2 per outing.
 
HOME SUCCESS
FGCU is a dominant 66-12 (.846) at Alico Arena since 2012-13. The Eagles are 7-1 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.
 
QUICK HITS
11 Christian Terrell: Scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed a season-best six rebounds in the win over FAU.
10 Kevin Mickle: Has started three-straight games for the first time since transferring to FGCU.
3 Rayjon Tucker: Ranks 3rd (just .1 percent behind the leader) in the ASUN with a 3-point percentage of 48.5 (16-33). The sophomore shot just 35.9 percent (14-39) from beyond the arc last year.
Team: FGCU went 10-10 from the free throw line at FAU, marking the first time in program history the Eagles have made all of their free throws when attempting at least 10 in a game.
 
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 15 games of the season, redshirt junior Brandon Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) has totaled 251 points – 16 more than what Norelia had at the same juncture last year when he set the program's single-season scoring record with 597 points.
 
Norelia also set the single-season program record with 234 made field goals last year. Through 15 games this year, Goodwin has 91 made field goals – the exact amount that Norelia had at the same juncture last season.
 
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 92 (has been as high as 49). The Eagles have already played three top-20 RPI opponents (Florida (2), Baylor (3) and UT Arlington (19)) 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: 53) (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 nearing a single-season program record as they are averaging 7.6 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
Christian Terrell (3): 20
Antravious Simmons (2 – includes 1 tie): 18
Demetris Morant (1): 18
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: 57-4 (.934)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 43-4 (.915)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 63-12 (.840)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 48-11 (.813)
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).
 
FLORIDA NATIONAL PERFORMANCE
During its game against Florida National on Dec. 22, FGCU set a single-game D-I program record with 30 assists, and matched a record with 68 points in the paint set earlier this year versus Ave Maria. Additionally, FGCU's 107 points 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.
 
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: 83
2) Miami: 79
3) FGCU: 75
4) Florida State: 71
5) North Florida: 66
6) Jacksonville: 48
    FIU
8) UCF: 47
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 70.1 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: 10-5, 0-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 155-153, 79-79 ASUN
Last 4 Years: 101-54, 46-18 ASUN
 
NEXT UP
FGCU begin defense of its ASUN Championship when league play tips off next Saturday, Jan. 7, at 4 p.m. The Eagles will head to DeLand for a rematch of last year's ASUN Tournament Final against Stetson. The Hatters are 6-9 on the year and face Ave Maria on Monday to conclude their non-conference schedule.

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 132-95 (.581), and in his 3+ years with FGCU is 75-43 (.635).
 
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.