EAST LANSING, MICH.- The FGCU Eagles face their stiffest test of the early season on Sunday when they make the trip to the Breslin Center to take on #10 Michigan State in the Spartans 2018-19 home opener.  LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles earned an 81-54 win over Southeastern in their 2018-19 home opener on Thursday in Alico Arena.  It marked the 9th straight home opening win for FGCU dating back to the 2010 season. 

The Green and Blue suffocated the Fire on the defensive end of the floor, holding the 11th ranked team in the NAIA to just 35% shooting on the night and just a single three point make in the contest, while forcing 23 Southeastern turnovers. 

All 12 Eagles that dressed saw action in the game and nine different players scored for the Green and Blue.  Leading the way for the second straight game for FGCU was Schadrac Casimir (Samford, Conn./Iona/Trinity Catholic HS) who went for 16 on the night.  Three other Eagles also scored in double figures including Troy Baxter Jr. (Tallahassee, Fla./UNLV/Oldsmar Christian HS), Haanif Cheatham (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Marquette/Pembroke Pines HS), and Brady Ernst (Clinton, Iowa/Indian Hills CC/Iowa State/Clinton HS) who had a team best seven rebounds as well in the win. 

FLORIDA'S FINEST
With 23 wins and a trip to the NIT last season, the Eagles are the only Division I men's team in the state of Florida to have 20 wins and reach the postseason in the past six seasons.

Overall, coming into the season, the Eagles ranked third in wins in the Sunshine State over the past six years. 
Florida- 150
Miami- 141
FGCU- 140
Florida State- 121
North Florida- 103
UCF- 100
Jacksonville- 84
FIU- 83

TOUGH ROAD
FGCU will play one of the tougher mid-major non-conference schedules in the country in 2018-19.  Along with their trip to East Lansing Sunday to take on 10th ranked Sparty, the Eagles will also square off with 20 win teams from last season in Toledo and South Dakota State, followed by the Florida Gators, and the 2018 NCAA Cinderella UMBC Retrievers before Christmas. 

MID MAJOR POLLS
The Eagles received votes in the preseason College Insider Mid Major Poll this season.  Six teams on their 2018-19 schedule also received notice including South Dakota State (5), Illinois State (10), Toledo (13) Lipscomb (22), UMBC, and Liberty (RV) while potential opponents Louisiana (11) and UC-Irvine (24) were also in the poll.  

EARLY BIRDS
The Eagles November 6th tipoff marked FGCU's earliest season opener in program history.  The previous earliest start came on November 8, 2013 when FGCU traveled to Lincoln, Nebraska to take on the Huskers in an ASUN Championship season.

THE GROWTH OF FGCU
After starting their D-I transition with five-straight losing seasons, the Eagles have now posted six-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 five 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: 26-8, 12-2 ASUN (1st)
2017-18: 23-12, 12-2 (ASUN (1st)
2018-19: 1-1, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 195-169, 103-83 ASUN
Last 6 Years Coming into 18-19: 140-69, 70-22 ASUN
 
ASUN PRESEASON COACHES POLL
FGCU was picked second in the 2018-19 ASUN Coaches Poll, receiving 66 total points and one first place vote. 

Pl	Team	Points (1st Place Votes)
1.	Lipscomb	79 (7)
2.	FGCU	66 (1)
3.	Liberty	63
4.	North Florida	61 (1)
5.	Jacksonville	40
6.	NJIT	38
7.	Kennesaw St.	26
8.	Stetson	20
9.	North Alabama	12

 
RANKED OPPONENTS
The Eagles will take on their first ranked opponent since the 2017 NCAA Tournament when the two teams tip on Sunday.  The last time FGCU faced a team with a number before their name was when they played #16 Florida State in the first round of March Madness that season. 
 
That was the second ranked foe that the Eagles squared off against that season after playing Michigan State when the Spartans were #13 earlier that year.

Vs. AP Top 25
L- 75-65 vs. #11 Wichita State (12/22/17)
L- 86-80 vs. #16 Florida State (3/16/17)*
L- 78-77 vs. #13 Michigan State (11/20/16)
L- 83-67 vs. #3 North Carolina (3/17/16)*
L- 75-65 vs. #18 Texas A&M (12/2/15)
L- 62-50 vs. #14 Florida (3/29/13)*
W- 78-68 vs. #8 Georgetown (3/22/13)*
L- 88-67 vs. #9 Duke (11/18/12)
L- 83-55 vs. #2 Ohio State (12/15/10)
L- 97-58 vs. #2 Michigan State (11/13/09)
L- 76-59 vs. #24 Michigan (12/22/08)
L- 85-45 vs. #23 Kansas (11/18/08)
*NCAA Tournament Game

THE MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS
Michigan State opens their home schedule on Sunday following a 92-87 loss to #1 Kansas in the Champions Classic on Tuesday. 
 
The Spartans enter 2018-19 ranked 10th in the AP Top 25 following a Big 10 Championship and a 30 win season a year ago.  Michigan State did lose a pair of NBA lottery picks in Jaren Jackson (4th overall) and Miles Bridges (12th overall), but still return a plethora of experience including a trio of juniors in Joshua Langford, Cassius Winston, and Nick Ward who have combined for 159 career starts.  Both Ward and Winston were Preseason All-Big 10 picks this season. 
 
In their opener against the Jayhawks Tuesday, the Spartans fell behind by as many as 17 in the first half before making a second half comeback to make things close.  A pair of Spartans posted double-doubles in the defeat including Kenny Goins who went for 17 points and 11 rebounds and Winston who had 13 points and 11 assists for MSU. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU and Michigan State have a brief but interesting history on the hardwood. They have met just twice, with both meetings coming in East Lansing. 
 
The first was in 2009, a blowout victory for the Spartans, but the last time the two hooked up, it was a nailbiter in the Breslin Center.  With the score 78-77 in favor of the Spartans and 1.6 seconds remaining in the clock, the Eagles threw a pass the length of the floor, but as soon as Antravious Simmons caught the ball at the elbow, the horn sounded and FGCU couldn't get a game winning shot attempt off and had to settle for the one point defeat.  Upon review of the film, the clock incorrectly started as soon as Christian Terrell threw the ball instead of when Simmons first touched the ball in the court of play.  Unfortunately for the Eagles, the play was not replayed, in one of the most infamous plays in FGCU's brief athletics history. 
 
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.
 
SEASON TICKETS AVAILABLE
Fans can purchase or learn more about season tickets by contacting an Alico Arena Ticket Office representative over the phone at 239-590-7145 or by visiting the office Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Additional information is available on FGCUTickets.com.
 
As an added incentive, new or returning season-ticket holders who purchase seats will be entered into a contest for an FGCU jersey autographed by either the women's or men's team.
 
Season ticket seat locations are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Like in the past, Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.
 
YOUNG ALUMNI
FGCU recently announced a program in which young alumni – those who have graduated from FGCU within the past five years – can save between 30-70 percent off Priority Level 4 and 5 section season tickets, in addition to receiving discounted Eagles Club membership, which is needed for select premier seats inside Alico Arena. Those interested in taking advantage of this offer are asked to click here or visit FGCUAthletics.com/YoungAlumni to complete a form. Following that, an FGCU Ticket Office representative will be in contact to set up an account. For more information, call 239-590-7145, email tickets@fgcu.edu or visit the Alico Arena Ticket Office Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
 
COACH FLY
Michael Fly was introduced as the 4th FGCU men's basketball head coach on April 5, 2018. He had spent the previous seven years as an assistant coach on the Eagles' staff. In that time, he helped FGCU to a 155-86 record (.643 winning percentage), including six ASUN Tournament Final appearances, three NCAA Tournament victories, three ASUN Tournament titles and three ASUN Regular Season Championships, two berths in the NIT, a CIT appearance and a run to the Sweet Sixteen. He has coached a dozen all-conference selections while with the Green and Blue, including two ASUN Player of the Year honors in Sherwood Brown and Brandon Goodwin, and two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections in Bernard Thompson and Demetris Morant. Of the top-10 players in career points at FGCU, Fly has helped develop eight of them, including all-time leading scorer Thompson (1,835). Additionally, the Kentucky alumnus has coached both the ASUN all-time assists leader Brett Comer (845; 24th in NCAA history) and FGCU all-time leading rebounder Chase Fieler (714).
 
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.