DUNK CITY, Fla. – With an opportunity to win its first outright ASUN regular-season championship, the FGCU men's basketball team hosts in-state foe Stetson on Senior Night Thursday at 7 p.m.
 
WHAT TO KNOW
An extremely limited amount of tickets remain and can be secured by logging on to FGCUTickets.com, calling 239-590-7145 or visiting the Alico Arena Ticket Office.
 
Fans are encouraged to be in their seats by 6:40 p.m. as Senior Night honoring Marc-Eddy Norelia and Demetris Morant will take place at that time. Immediately following the senior ceremony, FGCU Athletics officials will honor retiring University President Dr. Wilson Bradshaw with a framed jersey to thank him for his service and support of the Eagles.
 
The first 1,000 fans in attendance will receive a Dunk City foam noodle or #StompStetson rally towel. Thursday is a white out, with all fans encouraged to wear white to create a sold-out, white-out atmosphere.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
With a win over Stetson, FGCU will clinch its first-ever outright ASUN regular-season title. The Eagles shared their only other ASUN regular-season crown in 2013-14 with former league member Mercer after going 14-4. The win would give FGCU the No. 1 seed in the ASUN Championship, and guarantee the Eagles home-court advantage throughout the tournament.
 
If FGCU loses and Lipscomb wins at Kennesaw State, the Eagles and Bisons will share the regular-season crown. However, FGCU would still be in a good position to receive the No. 1 seed. The ONLY way FGCU does not get the No. 1 seed is if ALL of the below scenarios occur:
 
FGCU loses to Stetson
Lipscomb (10-3) wins at Kennesaw State (7-6)
USC Upstate (7-6) wins at NJIT (2-11)
Jacksonville (5-8) wins at North Florida (7-6)
 
ASUN Championship Schedule At Alico Arena:
Quarterfinals: FGCU vs. Stetson/NJIT on Monday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
*Semifinals: Thursday, Mar. 2, at 7 p.m. (ESPN3)
*Final: Sunday, Mar. 5, at 3 p.m. (ESPN)
*Pending a victory in the previous round
 
Tickets are on sale now for the quarterfinal game, and with a sellout crowd expected, fans are encouraged to secure their seats in advance by visiting FGCUTickets.com, stopping by the Alico Arena Ticket Office during normal business hours or by calling 239-590-7145.
 
OPENING TIP ITEMS
Stetson is returning to Alico Arena for the first time since last season's ASUN Championship Final when FGCU clipped the Hatters in overtime, 80-78, to advance to the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four years.
 
The Eagles have carried that momentum into 2016-17 as they have already set a Division-I program record with 22 regular-season wins. The previous record was 21 set in 2012-13 and again in 2014-15. A victory over Stetson would also guarantee FGCU its first single-digit loss season in the D-I era.
 
TWEETABLES
1) Brandon Goodwin became the first player in ASUN history to be named the league's Player of the Week and also its Newcomer of the Week on Monday.
2) Goodwin went 15-17 from the free-throw line in FGCU's win at USC Upstate on Saturday, setting the program's D-I single-game record for made free throws.
3) After not having a single-digit turnover game versus a D-I opponent through the first 20 games of the year, FGCU has single-digit giveaways in five of the last nine games.
4) Following called timeouts this year, FGCU ranks 4th in the nation in points per possession after that timeout at 1.059 (leader: UCLA, 1.083).
5) Under 4th-year head coach Joe Dooley, FGCU is 65-4 when leading at the half (15-0 this year) and 37-4 when scoring at least 80 points (12-1 this year).
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Points Allowed: Stetson allows an ASUN-worst 82.9 points per game, which ranks 337th out of 351 D-I teams. FGCU leads the ASUN by allowing just 69.7 points per game – four points better than any other team in the conference.
Rebounding: FGCU leads the ASUN with a +5.4 rebound margin, while Stetson is -7. In the first meeting this year, FGCU out-rebounded Stetson, 35-29, resulting in a 21-11 edge in 2nd-chance points for the Eagles.
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU holds a 15-7 edge in the all-time series with Stetson, which started when the Eagles joined D-I and the ASUN in 2007-08. The Eagles had won seven in a row over the Hatters by an average of 17 points per game until last year's regular-season finale in DeLand when Stetson ended the streak. The Hatters won the first three meetings – and four of the first five – but since then the Eagles have claimed 14 of the 17 contests since 2010. However, the last three meetings have been decided by a total of 10 points.
 
In the ASUN opener at Stetson last month, FGCU trailed by eight points, 85-77, with just over a minute remaining, but on a trio of Goodwin (Norcross, Ga./UCF/Norcross HS) free throws with .6 of a second remaining capped an incredible 89-88 comeback win.
 
SCOUTING STETSON
^ Derick Newton and Divine Myles lead a two-headed offensive attack for Stetson at 17.8 points and 16.8 points per game, respectively.
^ Looking ahead to the ASUN Championship, the Hatters will serve as either the No. 7 or No. 8 seed. A win against FGCU assures the Hatters of the No. 7 seed. A loss, combined with an NJIT win over USC Upstate, puts the Hatters at No. 8.
^ Luke Doyle (10.8 points per game) enters the final regular-season contest of the year needing two 3-pointers to break his own school record for triples in a season (72 last year).
^ Newton is the first Hatter with back-to-back 500-point seasons since 1991 and 1992. Additionally, Myles needs 12 points to reach the 500-point mark. If he does, he and Newton would be the first Stetson teammates to do it in the same season since 1961-62.
 
HOME COURT ADVANTAGE
FGCU is 71-14 (.835) at Alico Arena since the start of the 2012-13 season, including a 12-3 mark this year. In ASUN games, the Eagles have been even more dominant, posting a 33-5 (.868) mark against league foes in the regular season in that same timeframe.
 
PLAYER QUICK HITTERS
#0 Brandon Goodwin: Is the only player in the conference averaging at least 19 points (19.9), 5 rebounds (5.9) and 3 assists (3.7) in league games. Goodwin is the only player in league history to be named ASUN Newcomer of the Week six times (previous record: 4)
#3 Rayjon Tucker: Scored 10 points at USC Upstate – his first double-figure scoring contest in eight games.
#11 Christian Terrell: Scored 18 points at USC Upstate – his 2nd-highest point total of the year.
#21 Demetris Morant: Would rank 2nd in the nation in field goal percentage at .753 if he qualified. Morant averages 4.7 made field goals per game, and the NCAA minimum is 5 made per game in order to qualify for field goal percentage. Morant is nearly averaging a double-double in conference games with 12.3 points and 8.9 rebounds.
25 Marc-Eddy Norelia: Became the 7th member of the program's 1,000-point club two weeks ago. The redshirt senior now has 1,035 career points.
 
EMPHASIS IN THE PAINT
FGCU continues to lead the nation in points in the paint at 41.4 per game (2nd: Kentucky, 41), and is 5th in the country in field goal percentage at 50.5. The Eagles have out-scored their ASUN opponents in the paint this year by a dominant average of 41 to 27 per game. In their matchup last month, FGCU finished with a 50-36 edge in the paint over Stetson.
 
Last year, FGCU ranked 4th in the nation by having 61.1 percent of its total points come off 2-point baskets. This year, the Eagles are 14th in the country at 55.2 percent. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, FGCU has produced 11 games of 50+ points in the paint. In its entire pre-D-I era (2002-07), that happened just two times. Dating back to the middle portion of last year, the Eagles have out-scored their opponents in the paint in 39 of the last 51 games.
 
Helping fuel that low-post production for FGCU is a re-emergence of Dunk City as the Eagles are averaging 4.7 dunks per game, surpassing the average of 4 per game thrown down by the original Dunk City Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13. The Eagles already have 137 dunks this year, the most since that iconic 2012-13 squad slammed 148.
 
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE
FGCU has won 20 or more games for the last five years, and in each of the first four it has played in the postseason – something likely to occur again this season. By having played in the postseason and having won 20 or more games each of the previous four years, FGCU is one of just 31 teams in the nation (out of 351 D-I programs) to have accomplished that feat.
 
Additionally, the FGCU women's basketball team (23-7 this year) has won 20 or more games each of the past five years (13 in a row overall). FGCU is one of only eight schools in the nation that has had their men's and women's basketball teams win at least 20 games each of the past four years: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Baylor, Connecticut, BYU and Saint Mary's. So far this season, only Duke, Baylor and Louisville have been able to stretch that mark to five-consecutive seasons along with FGCU (entering games on Feb. 22).
 
FGCU is the only school in Florida that has posted five-straight 20-win seasons, and the first ASUN institution since former member College of Charleston from 1993-98.
 
RECORD-SETTING NUMBERS
FGCU is averaging 79.4 points per game, which would be a single-season D-I program record – more than two points better than last year's record of 77.2, and way more than the 72.9 averaged by the Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13. FGCU's 50.5-percent clip from the floor would also be the best all-time, and its rebound margin of +5.4 would be the best in the D-I era.
 
#DEPTHCITY
Last year, FGCU had 10 different players reach double-figure points in a game (tied for the 3rd-most in the nation). 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 (17 – includes 3 ties): 29 (2x)
Demetris Morant (3): 25
Zach Johnson (4 – includes 2 ties): 24
Rayjon Tucker: 23
Marc-Eddy Norelia (2): 21
Christian Terrell (4): 20
Christian Carlyle: 19
Antravious Simmons (2 – includes 1 tie): 18
RaySean Scott Jr.: 14
Kevin Mickle: 13
 
STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE
Of FGCU's 13 D-I non-conference opponents this year, four are in the top 45 of the RPI (Baylor (3), Florida (10), UT Arlington (35) and Michigan State (45)), and eight are inside the top 125 (La Salle (98), Louisiana Tech (121) and Georgia Southern (123) twice). FGCU is currently 83 in the RPI – the only ASUN team in the top 150.
 
FGCU was down just one point with under 3 minutes to play at previously #1-ranked Baylor before falling short, 81-72, lost to current #12 Florida despite holding a five-point lead with 15 minutes remaining and overcame a double-figure 2nd-half deficit to defeat UT Arlington – one of only two teams (#1 Gonzaga) to have beaten #18 Saint Mary's – convincingly, 85-72. Additionally, FGCU controversially lost, 78-77, at then-#13 Michigan State (more info later in this release).
 
ROAD WARRIORS
FGCU – which hopes it has played its final true road game of the year – is currently riding a nine-game road winning streak, which is tied for the 2nd-longest run in the nation behind only a 10-game stretch by #1 and unbeaten Gonzaga.
 
The Eagles finished a program-best 7-0 on the road in the ASUN this year, surpassing the previous single-season record for wins of five. FGCU is the first ASUN institution to go undefeated on the road in conference action since former league member Samford went 8-0 in 1998-99.
 
Overall, FGCU is also a program-best 10-3 away from Alico Arena this year, with all three losses coming by single digits at former #1 Baylor (81-72), then-#13 Michigan State (78-77) and top-100 RPI La Salle (84-80). The previous single-season program record for away victories was eight, set by the inaugural 2002-03 team.
 
ASUN RANKINGS
Several FGCU players rank among the top-10 performers in the ASUN:
 
Points Per Game
Brandon Goodwin: 4th, 18
 
Rebounds Per Game
Demetris Morant: 4th, 8.1
 
Assists Per Game
Brandon Goodwin: 3rd, 3.9
Zach Johnson: 10th, 3.1
 
Blocks Per Game
Demetris Morant: 1st, 1.6
 
Field Goal Percentage
Demetris Morant: 1st, .753
Brandon Goodwin: 7th, .523
 
Free Throw Percentage
Brandon Goodwin: 6th, .796
 
Assist/Turnover Ratio
Christian Terrell: 3rd, 2.3
Reggie Reid: 6th, 1.9
 
MARC-EDDY NORELIA
Norelia (Orlando, Fla./Tulane/Olympia HS) missed the first four games of the year with a broken left (shooting hand) before playing the next seven games. He then missed the next six games for personal reasons. Norelia did not travel with the team or partake in practice from Dec. 14-28, but rejoined practice on Dec. 29. He sat on the bench versus Florida Tech on Dec. 31, but did not dress; did dress at Stetson on Jan. 7; returned on Jan. 12 at Kennesaw State. 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, 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.
 
YOUTHFUL EAGLES
FGCU is getting the job done again this year with a youthful group as 80 percent of its total points, 70 percent of its rebounds and 93 percent of its assists have come from non-seniors.
 
ON RECORD PACE
Through the first 29 games of the season, Goodwin has totaled 523 points – 38 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 29 games this year, Goodwin has 183 made field goals – just three fewer than what Norelia had at the same juncture last season.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
FGCU has the following records under the direction of Dooley:
 
Leading At The Half: 65-4 (.942)
Holding Opponent Below 40% FG: 48-5 (.905)
Grabbing More Rebounds: 68-14 (.829)
Scoring Between 70-79 Points: 52-11 (.825)
Scoring At Least 80 Points: 37-4 (.902)
 
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.
6) 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.
7) Incredibly, all 15 of FGCU's players has a positive plus/minus ratio, and every scholarship player is at least +30 on the year.
8) The Eagles' first four ASUN games were decided by a total of 10 points – the smallest differential for a four-game stretch at any point in program history.
9) FGCU has had three different winning streaks of five or more games in a single season for the first time in program history.
 
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 is has the 3rd-most wins among D-I schools in the state of Florida (entering games on Feb. 22):
 
1) Florida: 95
2) Miami: 88
3) FGCU: 87
4) Florida State: 80
5) North Florida: 74
6) Jacksonville: 55
7) UCF: 54
8) FIU: 50
9) Stetson: 41
10) Bethune-Cookman: 40
11) USF: 37
12) FAU: 36
13) Florida A&M: 30
 
FGCU is the only D-I team in the state of Florida which has posted four-straight 20-win seasons (five-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 four game-winning shots this year in the final 35 seconds. 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.
 
Goodwin then hit three free throws with .6 of a second left to give the Eagles an 89-88 win at Stetson at Jan. 7. FGCU trailed by eight points with just under 70 seconds remaining before mounting an incredible comeback.
 
The most recent game-winning effort came on Jan. 25 when Goodwin again won it for the Eagles, knocking down a baseline 3-pointer with 34 seconds left to break an 80-80 tie at North Florida en route to an 86-82 triumph.
 
LOCKING IN ON D
Since Dooley took over FGCU in 2013-14, FGCU has held 35 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.
 
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 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 last March over fellow 16 seed Fairleigh Dickinson.
^ The Eagles will be looking for their 5th 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.
 
BAHAMIAN SUMMER
FGCU spent Aug. 5-10 of last summer 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 five-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: 22-7, 11-2 ASUN (1st)
D-I Total: 167-155, 90-81 ASUN
Last 4+ Years: 113-56, 57-20 ASUN

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 144-97 (.589), and in his 3+ years with FGCU is 87-45 (.659).
 
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.