DUNK CITY, Fla. – With only three regular-season games remaining, the FGCU men's basketball team (15-12, 6-5 A-Sun) enters Thursday's game at 7 p.m. against Lipscomb (10-18, 6-5 A-Sun) tied with the Bisons and just one game out of 1st place in the Atlantic Sun Conference standings.
 
A-SUN STANDINGS (Remaining Games)
1) North Florida: 7-4 (NJIT, Upstate, @ JU)
2) NJIT: 7-4 (@ UNF, @ JU, @ Upstate)
3) Jacksonville: 7-4 (Upstate, NJIT, UNF)
4) Lipscomb: 6-5 (@ FGCU, @ Stetson, KSU)
5) FGCU: 6-5 (LIP, KSU, @ Stetson)
6) Kennesaw State: 5-6 (@ Stetson, @ FGCU, @ LIP)
7) Stetson: 3-8 (KSU, LIP, FGCU)
8) USC Upstate: 3-8 (@ JU, @ UNF, NJIT)
 
OPENING TIP
Above are the current A-Sun standings by tournament seed if the season ended today. Five teams – including FGCU – are separated by just a single game at the top of the league ledger. Two of the final three games for UNF, NJIT and Jacksonville are against each other. FGCU can still finish anywhere from 1st to 6th place in the A-Sun as it would hold tiebreakers over Stetson and Upstate should all three unlikely finish tied.
 
WHAT TO KNOW
Thursday's game is presented by Ted Todd Allstate Insurance. Also, special recognition will be made to Dr. Ben Hill Griffin III for his long-time support of FGCU Athletics. Department officials will hold a brief ceremony prior to tipoff to present him with an Honorary Letterwinner Award. Griffin III commissioned $5 million to be donated toward the construction of Alico Arena, and his family's Alico Incorporated donated the 760 acres on which FGCU was built.
 
Additionally, the first 1,000 fans will receive a special-edition 2016 Dunk City blue T-Shirt (photo).
 
TWEETABLES
1) Lipscomb leads the all-time series with FGCU, 10-6, as the Eagles' .375 winning percentage is the worst among any current A-Sun member.
2) Marc-Eddy Norelia's 8.9 rebound average would be the best in program history, and his 16.2 scoring average would be 2nd-best in the Division-I era.
3) FGCU has had 17 games already this year decided by 10 points or less, three shy of matching the D-I program record of 20 in 2011-12.
4) The Eagles scored just 16 points in the paint at NJIT on Saturday, tied for the 2nd-fewest in the Joe Dooley era (3 years; 14 @ UCSB last year).
5) FGCU scored 59 points at NJIT – its 3rd-lowest total of the season – and shot 24.1 percent from the floor in the 2nd half, its lowest in any half this year.
 
STYLE CONTRAST
FGCU receives 60.7 percent of its total points from 2-point field goals, ranking as the 4th-highest percentage in the nation. Old Dominion leads the country at 62.5 percent. By comparison, Lipscomb ranks 344th in the nation (out of 351 teams) in that category at 41.4 percent. Despite its limited low-post production at NJIT Saturday, in A-Sun contests FGCU is out-scoring its opponents by an average of 11 points per game in the paint.
 
Comparatively, the Bisons rank 10th in the country in total points from 3-point field goals at 44.6 percent, while the Eagles are 334th at 21.6 percent. Lipscomb made a school-record 19 3-pointers in the first meeting with FGCU this year as the Eagles entered that contest ranked 2nd in the nation in 3-point percentage defense. Lipscomb heads into Thursday's game ranked 3rd in the nation with 299 made 3-pointers (North Florida leads with 348), while FGCU is 16th in the country in 3-point percentage defense at .304.
 
SEASON'S FIRST MEETING
Lipscomb made the aforementioned school-record 19 3-pointers on Jan. 24 to defeat FGCU, 91-75, stopping the Eagles' winning streak at seven and preventing them from starting 5-0 in the league for the first time in program history. The game was postponed by one day as Nashville was hit with nearly a foot of snow on Jan. 22.
 
The Bisons connected on 11-18 3-point attempts in the first half and 8-15 in the second half to finish 19-33 (57.6 percent). The 19 makes are the most by an opponent in FGCU's D-I program history (since 2007-08) and are tied for the most by any opponent in program history (since 2002-03). Lipscomb actually had the previous record against FGCU in the D-I era with 17 in 2010-11, while Florida College made 19 versus the Eagles in their inaugural season.
 
SERIES HISTORY
Lipscomb leads the all-time series, 10-6, but over the past nine games FGCU holds a 5-4 edge. The contests have typically been high scoring. In 14 of the 16 meetings FGCU has tallied more than 70 points, and in 11 of the 16 matchups both teams have recorded more than 70 points.
 
As previously mentioned, Lipscomb has the highest winning percentage against FGCU of any current A-Sun member:
 
USC Upstate: 14-5 (.737)
Stetson: 13-6 (.684)
Kennesaw State: 11-6 (.647)
North Florida: 12-10 (.545)
NJIT: 1-1 (.500)
Jacksonville: 8-11 (.421)
Lipscomb: 6-10 (.375)
 
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
^ Lipscomb was tabbed for a 4th-place finish in the A-Sun Preseason Poll, but a rash of injuries got the Bisons off to a slower-than-expected start. However, they have rebounded to win three in a row – including victories over league leaders Jacksonville and North Florida last weekend.
^ Junior guard Josh Williams – who reached 1,000 career points in November – sustained a torn left ACL in December. He joins senior Talbott Denny (arm), and redshirt junior Dylan Greene (heel) as members of the team sidelined due to injury.
^ Junior guard J.C. Hampton – also a 1,000-point scorer – leads the Bisons at 15.9 points per game. Nathan Moran is Lipscomb's most lethal 3-point threat as he's made 75 shots from distance and is one of three players on the roster who have made at least 55 3-pointers this year.
^ Lipscomb is tied for 2nd in the A-Sun with 79.4 points per game, but allow the 2nd-most points per game at 81.3 per contest. FGCU, meanwhile, leads the league by only allowing opponents to score 71 points per game.
^ Head coach Casey Alexander is in his third year at the helm of the Bisons after spending two years in charge of Stetson.
 
HOME-COURT DOMINANCE
FGCU is 55-11 (.833) at Alico Arena since 2012-13. Eight of those 11 losses have come since the start of the 2014-15 season. FGCU is 12-4 at home this year, was 13-4 last year, went 15-2 in 2013-14 and 15-1 in 2012-13.
 
Versus A-Sun foes during the regular season since 2012-13, FGCU is 27-3 (.900) at The Nest. The Eagles had won 21 straight regular-season games at Alico against A-Sun competition before losing to North Florida in the home regular-season finale last year (other losses: Lipscomb in overtime during the 2012-13 season and earlier this season versus Jacksonville).
 
NOT UNCOMMON WATERS
While FGCU has already lost five A-Sun games – more than all of last year (3) – the Eagles also lost five league games in 2012-13 and went on to become the only 15 seed in NCAA Tournament history to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. The Eagles also won the A-Sun Tournament that year despite losing to Lipscomb twice during the regular season.
 
A-SUN RANKS
In addition to leading the A-Sun in points allowed, FGCU also paces the league in rebounding (40.5), field goal percentage defense (.414) and 3-point percentage defense (.304).
 
PROTECTING THE ROCK
With just seven turnovers against NJIT Saturday afternoon, FGCU recorded its 8th single-digit turnover contest of the year, tying the all-time single-season record set last year. Eight single-digit turnover games is exactly how many the Eagles had in their entire pre-D-I history, spanning five seasons from 2002-07. In 2013-14, FGCU had six single-digit turnover games, as through Dooley's nearly three seasons in charge of the Eagles they have posted 22 of the program's 28 single-digit turnovers games in the D-I era (since 2007-08).
 
RECORD-SETTING SEASON
Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) is 2nd in the A-Sun in rebounding at 8.9 per outing, 4th in field-goal percentage (.538) and 6th in scoring with 16.2 points per game. With 17 points and 11 rebounds on Saturday at NJIT, the redshirt junior set the all-time single-season program record for double-doubles with 10, besting the previous mark of nine by Robinson Tisme from the program's first season in 2002-03.
 
The southpaw is also closing in on several D-I and all-time program single-season records:
 
Points Per Game: 16.2 – Would the 2nd-best in D-I history, just behind Casey Wohlleb's 16.5 average in 2002-03.
Field Goals Made: 172 – Currently 8th all-time, with the record of 210 behind held by Sherwood Brown in 2012-13 (37 games).
Rebounds Per Game: 8.9 – Would be the best in program history.
Total Rebounds: 239 – Currently the 4th-most in program history, closing in on the record of 274 held by Adam Liddell in 2006-07.
 
PLAYER QUICK HITS
^ Reggie Reid (Harlem, Ga./Harlem HS) ranks 3rd among all freshmen nationally in assist rate at 33.3 percent – the percentage of field goals made by a team that a player assists on while in the game. Reid scored eight points at NJIT after totaling eight points in the previous seven games.
^ Redshirt junior Demetris Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) has 70 career blocks, just 10 shy of moving into 2nd place on the program's all-time list. Chase Fieler (2010-14) owns the all-time record with 134 rejections. Morant returned to the FGCU lineup three games ago after missing the previous seven contests with a muscle bruise in his right leg. He has scored 24 points and grabbed 20 rebounds in those three games since his return.
^ Redshirt senior Julian DeBose (Washington, D.C./Rice/St. John College HS) became the 7th player in program history to reach 1,000 career points on Feb. 6 against North Florida. He entered the game against the Ospreys needing just five points to reach the mark and now has 1,024 for his career.
^ Redshirt senior Filip Cvjeticanin (Zagreb, Croatia/American School of Madrid) is tied for 3rd on the program's all-time 3-pointers made list with 178, and is tied for 2nd among all D-I players. The D-I record is held by 2015 graduate Bernard Thompson with 219. Ryan Hopkins (2002-05) holds the all-time record with 355.
 
BREAKOUT SEASON
After averaging just 3.3 points per game last year, sophomore Christian Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) has catapulted to 12.6 per game this year – an increase of 9.3 – and has led the Eagles in scoring seven times. Not only is the 6-5 Terrell getting the job done on the offensive end, he also enters Thursday's contest with the 2nd-most rebounds on the team this year with 130.
 
RE-TWEETS
1) FGCU has already played four overtime games, setting a single-season program record. In its entire pre-D-I history (2002-06), FGCU played three total OT contests.
2) Eight times this year FGCU has had a game decided by five points or less. The Eagles are 4-4 in such games, and 7-10 in games decided by 10 points or less.
3) Zach Johnson has reached double-figure points 11 of the last 14 games, and is 2nd on FGCU in scoring in A-Sun games at 13.8 per contest.
 
A-SUN SUCCESS
Since the start of the 2012-13 season, FGCU boasts a 44-17 (.721) record in A-Sun games – seven more wins than any other team in the league (North Florida, 37).
 
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records under the direction of Dooley:
 
Leading At The Half: 46-3 (.939)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 21-3 (.875)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 49-8 (.860)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 36-4 (.900)
Scoring At Least 70 Points: 39-8 (.830)
 
ON RECORD PACE
FGCU is on pace for several D-I and all-time program records this year:
 
Points Per Game: 76.8 – Would shatter the D-I record of 72.9 set by the Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13.
Rebounds Per Game: 40.5 – Would set the D-I record, besting each of the previous two years (38.1 in 2014-15 and 36.6 in 2013-14).
Field-Goal Percentage: 47 – Would be the best all-time, just ahead of the record of 46.7 percent in 2013-14.
Blocks Per Game: 4 – Would break the best mark all-time as no team has ever even averaged 4 blocks per game in a season.
Scoring Margin: +5.8 – Would be the 2nd-best in D-I history, just behind the +6.1 differential in 2012-13.
 
YOUNG, TALENTED AND DEEP
FGCU has just two seniors on its roster, and so far this year 82 percent of its scoring, 87 percent of its rebounding (excluding team rebounds) and 88 percent of its assists have come from non-seniors.
 
Not only are the Eagles young and talented, but they are deep as this year 10 different players have reached double-figure points in a game. The only teams in the nation with more are Boston University (12) and Georgia Southern (11). Below is a list of players who have already scored 10 or more points in a game, their season high and how many times they've led (or tied) the team in scoring.
 
R-Jr. Norelia (13 – includes a tie): 34
R-Fr. Johnson (5 – includes two ties): 26
So. Terrell (7 – includes a tie): 25
R-Sr. DeBose (2): 20
Fr. Rayjon Tucker (1): 19
R-Sr. Cvjeticanin (1): 18
Fr. Reid: 18
R-So. Antravious Simmons: 17
R-So. Kevin Mickle: 14
R-Jr. Morant: 12
 
In a further testament to the youthful and talented group, Reid leads all A-Sun freshmen in assists per game (3.5), Johnson is 3rd among all A-Sun freshmen in scoring (10.6), Terrell is 3rd among all A-Sun sophomores in points per game (12.6), Simmons is 2nd among A-Sun sophomores in rebounds per game (4.7) and Norelia is 2nd among A-Sun juniors in rebounds per contest (8.9).
 
CHALLENGING NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
FGCU played a challenging non-conference schedule as all but two of FGCU's seven non-league losses came against top-115 RPI teams, including two losses to top-30 teams (#22 Texas A&M, 75-65; #28 Florida, 70-50) and three to top-50 teams (#47 South Dakota State, 56-52) – and two of those three losses came by 10 points or less. FGCU also dropped an 85-75 decision at #77 Ohio, and a 66-63 contest to #112 Louisiana Tech.
 
MILESTONE MARK
FGCU won its 250th all-time game with an 85-56 decision over USC Upstate on Jan. 16. The Eagles enter Thursday's game with an all-time record (since 2002-03) of 253-185 (.578).
 
GOLDEN SUMMER
DeBose won a gold medal as part of Team USA at the World University Games (WUG) last summer in South Korea ... was one of only two players (SMU's Nic Moore) on the team not from Kansas University ... finished the tournament averaging 4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 10.8 minutes per contest ... scored a team-high 18 points in the USA's final group-round game against Switzerland ... connected on 50 percent (13-26) of his shots from the floor during the WUG, including 3-8 from 3-point range ... added nine offensive and nine defensive rebounds, with the nine offensive boards representing the second-most by any guard on the roster  ... also contributed six steals and a block as Team USA won its games by an average of 20.3 points.
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will welcome Kennesaw State on Saturday for Senior Night. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m., with fans encouraged to be in their seats by 6:45 for the celebration of FGCU's senior players and managers. Following the game with the Owls, the Eagles travel to Stetson to face the Hatters in the regular-season finale next Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m.
 
TICKET INFORMATION
Single-game tickets are currently on sale for all remaining home contests. For the latest ticket information, log on to FGCUAthletics.com or call the Alico Arena Ticket Office at 239-590-7145.

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 third year with the Eagles in 2015-16 and coached six all-conference selections during his first two seasons. He guided FGCU to its first Atlantic Sun Conference Regular-Season Championship and first trip to the NIT in 2014, and in 2015 he led the Eagles to their third-straight 20-win season and third-straight postseason appearance with 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 seventh season overall as a head coach and has a record of 116-88 (.569), and in his 2+ years with FGCU is 59-36 (.621).
 
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.