KENNESAW, Ga. – Riding a five-game winning streak, the FGCU men's basketball team continues its stretch of opening ASUN Conference games on the road when the Eagles begin a weekend swing Thursday at Kennesaw State at 7 p.m.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
FGCU has won 11-straight games over Kennesaw State – the longest active streak by any ASUN team over another league member. Among current conference members, the 11-game winning streak is tied for the 3rd-longest in ASUN history, bested only by North Florida's 13-game run over Kennesaw State from 2010-16, and a 12-game run by Jacksonville over Kennesaw State from 2007-13. From 2007-11, JU also won 11 in a row over UNF.
 
Kennesaw State is ranked 2nd in the nation in 3-point percentage (43.2), but have taken (264) and made (114) the fewest 3s in the ASUN. FGCU enters the contest ranked 11th in the country in 3-point percentage defense, limiting opponents to just 28.8 percent. Michigan State (52.9 percent) is the only team that has shot at least 40 percent from the beyond the arc against the Eagles this year.
 
In addition to ranking 11th in 3-point percentage defense, FGCU is in the top-20 nationally in each of the following categories: field goal percentage (3rd, 52.2), 3-point percentage (16th, 40.3), assists per game (19th, 17.6) and rebound margin (19th, +7.8).
 
TWEETABLES
1) This is just the second time in program history (2009-10) that FGCU has opened an ASUN season with three-straight games on the road.
2) Brandon Goodwin hit three free throws with .6 of a second left at Stetson last Saturday as FGCU erased an eight-point deficit in the final 70 seconds to win, 89-88.
3) The 89 points were the most in an ASUN road game for FGCU since the regular-season finale in 2013-14.
4) FGCU has already won three games by one point for the first time in a single season, and it has had a record four games decided by a single point already this year.
5) Incredibly, all 15 of FGCU's players has a positive plus/minus ratio, and all 11 scholarship players are at least +33 on the year.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Defense: FGCU leads the ASUN by limiting opponents to just 69.9 points per game. Kennesaw State averages just 74.2 points per game – the fewest among league members.
Scoring Margin: The Eagles also pace the conference in scoring margin at +11.3, while KSU ranks last at -4.4.
Field Goal Percentage: FGCU paces the ASUN by connecting at 52.2 percent from the floor, and the Owls allow a league-worst 47.7 percent.
Rebound Margin: The Eagles lead the ASUN with a +7.8 rebound margin, while KSU is 7th in the conference at +1.2. Eleven of FGCU's 12 wins this year have come when it has out-rebounded its opponent.
 
SERIES HISTORY
While FGCU has the aforementioned 13-6 edge in the all-time series with Kennesaw State – including a program-record 11-game winning streak – the matchups in recent years have been close. Each of the last six meetings between FGCU and KSU have been decided by 10 points or fewer.
 
SCOUTING KENNESAW STATE
^ Kennesaw State let a late lead slip away in its ASUN opener last Saturday at Lipscomb and fell just short, 82-79. Prior to that contest, the Owls claimed an impressive 76-73 win at then-RPI 61 Tennessee State.
^ Kendrick Ray ranks 7th in the nation with a 22.6 scoring average. The redshirt senior has attempted 308 shots on the year – the 2nd-most in the country – and by himself has accounted for 35 percent of KSU's shots this year.
^ Aubrey Williams is averaging a double-double with 11.2 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He has nine double-doubles on the year to rank 9th in the nation. Nick Masterson checks in at 7th in the country with a 50.5-percent clip from 3-point range.
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
FGCU is currently 74 in the RPI – the only ASUN team in the top 200. The Eagles have already played four top-45 RPI opponents (Baylor (2), Florida (3), Michigan State (39) and UT Arlington (42)) and gone 1-3 against the group. FGCU also has a narrow road loss to RPI 91 La Salle (84-80), and a win and a loss against Georgia Southern (RPI 103).
 
FGCU was down just one point with under 3 minutes to play at #1-ranked Baylor before falling short, 81-72, lost to #23-ranked Florida despite holding a five-point lead with 15 minutes remaining and overcame a double-figure 2nd-half deficit to defeat UT Arlington – the only team to have beaten #21-ranked Saint Mary's – convincingly, 85-72. Additionally, FGCU controversially lost, 78-77, at Michigan State (more info later in this release).
 
ASUN RANKINGS
Several FGCU players rank among the top-10 performers in the ASUN:
 
Points Per Game
Brandon Goodwin: 5th, 16.7
 
Rebounds Per Game
Demetris Morant: 6th, 7.5
 
Assists Per Game
Brandon Goodwin: 3rd, 4.2
Zach Johnson: 10th, 3.3
 
Blocks Per Game
Demetris Morant: 1st, 1.6
 
Field Goal Percentage
Demetris Morant: 1st, .730
Rayjon Tucker: 4th, .573
Brandon Goodwin: 6th, .545
Antravious Simmons: 8th, .540
 
Free Throw Percentage
Rayjon Tucker: T-8th, .778
Brandon Goodwin: 10th, .776
 
3-Point Percentage
Rayjon Tucker: 3rd, .500
Christian Terrell: 7th, .458
Zach Johnson: 10th, .418
 
Assist/Turnover Ratio
Reggie Reid: 4th, 2.4
Christian Terrell: 5th, 2.3
Brandon Goodwin: 10th, 1.8
 
PLAYER QUICK HITS
Brandon Goodwin: Was named ASUN Newcomer of the Week for the third time this year on Monday after scoring 20 points, grabbing seven rebounds and securing seven assists at Stetson, in addition to making the game-winning free throws.
Rayjon Tucker: Made just the third start of his career at Stetson, and followed through with 19 points.
Demetris Morant: Is averaging a double-double of the past seven games with 13.9 points and 10 rebounds.
 
MARC-EDDY NORELIA UPDATE
Redshirt senior Marc-Eddy Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS)has not played the last six games due to personal reasons. He did not travel with the team or partake in practice from Dec. 14-28; rejoined practice on Dec. 29. Sat on the bench versus Florida Tech on Dec. 31, but did not dress; did dress at Stetson last Saturday. His status for Thursday'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.
 
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 Demetris Morant (Miami, Fla./UNLV/Bishop Gorman HS) was tabbed as the Preseason Defensive Player of the Year.
 
YOUTHFUL EAGLES
FGCU is getting the job done again this year with a youthful group as 84 percent of its total points, 74 percent of its rebounds and 94 percent of its assists have come from non-seniors.
 
ON RECORD PACE
Through the first 17 games of the season, redshirt junior Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) has totaled 284 points – 13 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 17 games this year, Goodwin has 102 made field goals – just three fewer than what Norelia had at the same juncture last season.
 
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.
 
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 again had 10 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 (10 – includes 3 ties): 26
Zach Johnson (3 – includes 2 ties): 24
Rayjon Tucker: 23
Christian Terrell (3): 20
Demetris Morant (2): 20
Christian Carlyle: 19
Antravious Simmons (2 – includes 1 tie): 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: 59-4 (.937)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 44-4 (.916)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 65-12 (.844)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 48-11 (.813)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 32-4 (.889)
 
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) 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.
4) The 11 non-conference wins were the most in program history, and the three 100+ point games already marks the first time in single-season D-I history that has occurred.
5) FGCU had two separate 4+ game winning streaks in D-I non-conference history for the first time.
 
FLORIDA NATIONAL PERFORMANCE
During its game against Florida National on Dec. 22, FGCU set a single-game D-I program record with 30 assists (tied again a game later versus Florida Tech), 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 Jan. 11):
 
1) Florida: 86
2) Miami: 80
3) FGCU: 77
4) Florida State: 74
5) North Florida: 68
6) Jacksonville: 50
7) UCF: 49
8) FIU: 48
9) Stetson: 37
10) Bethune-Cookman: 36
      USF
12) FAU: 32
13) Florida A&M: 27
 
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 three game-winning shots this year, with the final one coming with the trio of free throws by Goodwin at Stetson. The first came on Nov. 25 when 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 .973 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 33 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 again leading the ASUN, holding opponents to just 69.9 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 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.
 
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. With the men's and women's teams each having 12 wins through the non-conference schedule again this year, the Eagles are positioned to make that five-straight seasons.
 
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: 12-5, 1-0 ASUN
D-I Total: 157-153, 80-79 ASUN
Last 4+ Years: 103-54, 47-18 ASUN
 
NEXT UP
FGCU will drive to Nashville on Friday before facing Lipscomb on Saturday at 5 p.m. (4 p.m. local). The Bisons have won five-straight games to even their overall record at 9-9. Lipscomb is 1-0 in ASUN play entering a home contest with Stetson Thursday evening.

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 134-95 (.585), and in his 3+ years with FGCU is 77-43 (.642).
 
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.