DUNK CITY, Fla. – Behind a career night from RaySean Scott Jr. and a game-high 20 points from Zach Johnson, the FGCU men's basketball team (3-2) opened the Homewood Suites FGCU Shootout with a 79-71 win over Denver (1-3) Friday night at Alico Arena to snap the Eagles' mini two-game losing streak.
 
Scott Jr. (Compton, Calif./Compton HS) scored a career-high 15 points to go along with a career- and team-best eight rebounds off the bench as he made seven of his eight field-goal attempts and added a block in a career-high 26 minutes. Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) scored 11 of his 20 in the 1st half, and matched a career high with four steals.
 
The Eagles opened up a 25-14 lead midway through the 1st half, and appeared potentially poised to cruise to a relatively easy win. However, Denver fought back, eventually took a 32-31 lead, but trailed at the break, 35-32, after the Green and Blue closed on a 4-0 run. Instrumental in that opening-stanza margin was a 14-0 FGCU differential in points off turnovers.
 
The matchup remained closely contested deep into the 2nd half as the score was knotted at 60-60 with just over five minutes remaining before the Eagles used an extended 13-5 run over the next four minutes to open up a lead that would get no smaller than six the rest of the night.
 
Brandon Goodwin and Christian Terrell both scored 16 points and had four rebounds, while Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) dished out a game-high-tying five assists and Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) added three helpers as the Eagles shot 48.1 percent (26-54) from the floor, including a season-high nine 3-pointers – which proved crucial against Denver's 3-2 zone.
 
"We didn't get off to a good start from an energy standpoint, but once we locked in Brandon and Zach did some good things to get us going," said FGCU head coach Joe Dooley. "But we have to figure out our defense and get more stops. However, the ball did move a lot better today – 16 assists on 26 field goals is good to see. Ray (Scott Jr.) made some solid plays, and our bench really gave us a lift."
 
The bench was led by Scott Jr., who became FGCU's seventh different player already this year to tally double-figure points in a game through just five outings. The Eagles extended their record to 77-14 (.846) at Alico Arena since the start of the 2012-13 season.
 
FGCU – which entered the game ranked #13 in the CollegeInsider.com Top 25 Poll – shot 9-24 (37.5 percent) from 3-point range. That helped extend the Pioneers, and the Eagles again outscored their opponent in the paint, 35-32 – the fifth-straight opponent to open the year that FGCU has done that to after leading the nation in points in the paint last year.
 
FGCU entered the contest with 82 made free throws – the 11th most in the nation among teams which had only played four games – and continued marching to the stripe on Friday as it connected on 18 of 23 attempts (78.3 percent), led by a 7-9 effort by Johnson.
 
Denver was led offensively by Daniel Amigo with 18 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, while Jake Pemberton added 15 points in a starting role. The Pioneers shot 50.9 percent (28-55), but the Eagles limited them to just 27.8 percent from 3-point range (5-18).
 
The Eagles committed single-digit turnovers (9) for the first time this year, leading to a 24-7 edge in points off turnovers as the Pioneers gave the ball away 16 times.
 
FGCU returns to action on Saturday for its second game in an eventual three-day stretch when the Eagles welcome Navy on Military Appreciation Night at 7. All military members – current or former – with a valid military ID are admitted for a discounted $9 rate, in addition to receiving a $10 gift card to Mission BBQ while supplies last, and will be recognized throughout the evening.
 
The Midshipmen are 4-2 on the year after defeating St. Francis Brooklyn (1-3) in the first game on Friday, 85-76. At 4 p.m. on Saturday, Denver and St. Francis Brooklyn will play each other.
 
NOTEWORTHY: FGCU was without 6-9 freshman Brian Thomas for the second-straight game with a fractured left hand, while leading 3-point shooter Dinero Mercurius played less than a minute before injuring his shoulder … it was the first all-time meeting between the two teams … Denver was the first FGCU opponent this year that had not received votes in either the mid-major or Associated Press Top 25 polls … the Eagles are now 71-5 under Dooley when leading at the half … this was the first time this year FGCU won when being out-rebounded (34-28).
 
IRMA RELIEF DONATIONS
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, many individuals and families throughout Southwest Florida are still in desperate need of assistance. To aid in those relief efforts, FGCU Athletics will be collecting donations at all Eagle home games for the immediate future. Donation items most needed include: non-perishable food, clothing, household items and first-aid supplies. Additionally, those unable to attend upcoming home games can drop off donations in canisters located in the Alico Arena lobby. All donations will be given to those hardest hit in Lee and Collier counties.
 
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 5th season with the Eagles in 2017-18 and has coached eight all-conference selections in that time. He has led FGCU to 20+ win seasons and postseason appearances in all four years: 2014 NIT; 2015 CIT; 2016 NCAA; 2017 NCAA. Dooley was named the 2017 ASUN Coach of the Year and the 2017 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a D-I program record 26 wins. In 8+ seasons overall as a head coach, Dooley has a record of 151-100 (.602), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 94-48 (.662). 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.
 
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.