FORT MYERS, FLA.- The FGCU Eagles return home Friday for an 8 PM tip to take on the South Dakota State Jackrabbits in one of the premier mid-major matchups of the 2018-19 season. 
   
LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles wrapped up a three game in six day stretch on Sunday as they took on #10 Michigan State on the road in East Lansing. 
 
FGCU got off to a hot start against the Spartans, jumping out to a 10-6 lead, but Michigan State roared back with a 16-0 run and the Eagles never recovered.  MSU led it 59-35 at the half before the Green and Blue played them even in the second half for the game to finish 106-82 in favor of Sparty. 
 
In the loss Troy Baxter Jr. (Tallahassee, Fla./UNLV/Oldsmar Christian) and Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenney) both had career nights for the Eagles.  Baxter got off to a hot start with seven points in the first 2:15 in route to a career best 20 points while Carlyle did his damage in the second half, scoring 20 of his own, 18 coming in the final period, to set a new career high for himself. 
 
The Eagles 82 points scored against the Spartans marked their highest point total against a ranked opponent in program history.  It topped their 80 point effort in the NCAA Tournament against Florida State in 2017.
 
SUCCESS AT HOME
FGCU is 90-20 at home in Alico Arena in their past 110 games.  After a win eight days ago in the home opener against Southeastern, the Eagles have won nine straight home openers in the friendly confines. 
 
TOUGH ROAD
FGCU will play one of the tougher mid-major non-conference schedules in the country in 2018-19.  Each of their first five opponents of the year (Illinois St., Southeastern, Michigan State, South Dakota St., and Toledo) either won their regular season conference championship or played in their conference championship game last season. Both of their opponents this week, Michigan State and South Dakota State, played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
 
EAGLE LEADERS

Points Per Game		Rebounds Per Game		Assists Per Game
1. Schadrac Casimir	13.7	1. Christian Carlyle	5.3	1. Decardo Day	4.7
2. Troy Baxter Jr.	13.0	2. Haanif Cheatham	4.3	2. Schadarac Casimir	2.7
3. Christian Carlyle	10.3	Brady Ernst	4.3	3. Haanif Cheatham	2.3
FG %		3pt %		FT %
1. Christian Carlyle	.625	1. Zach Scott	.667	1. Schadarac Casimir	1.000
Zach Scott	.625	2. Schadarac Casimir	.643	2. Christian Carlyle	.647
3. Troy Baxter Jr.	.516	3. Dinero Mercurius	.500	3. Troy Baxter Jr.	.600

 
JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Schadarac Casimir (Samford, Conn./Iona/Trinity Catholic) has 1,153 career points, most of those coming at Iona where he transferred from. 
 
Dinero Mercurius (Orlando, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Chrisitian) is the next closest, as he is just over 100 points away from reaching the mark.  His 895 career points have come between stops at USF, Daytona State, and now at FGCU. 
 
Despite playing just five games during his junior season at Marquette, Haanif Cheatham (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Marquette/Pembroke Pines HS) also has the century mark in his crosshairs.  Cheatham sits at 738 for his career and would need to average approximately eight points per game the rest of the season to reach 1,000. 
 
MILESTONE WATCH
As a program, the Eagles are currently 195-170 as a Division I member.  With five more victories, they will join the 200 win club. 
 
EAGLES PICKED 2ND, CHEATHAM HONORED IN PRESEASON RELEASE

2018-19 ASUN Men's Basketball Preseason Honors and Awards
Preseason Player of the Year: Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Noah Horchler, North Florida
 
Preseason All-Conference Team

Pos	Name	School	Cl	Hometown	Major
*G	Garrison Mathews	Lipscomb	Sr.	Franklin, Tenn.	Criminal Justice
*F/C	Abdul Lewis	NJIT	Sr.	Newark, NJ	Science & Technology
G	Haanif Cheatham	FGCU	Sr.	Fort Lauderdale, Fla.	Communications
F	Jace Hogan	Jacksonville	Sr.	Melbourne, Fla.
G	JD Notae	Jacksonville	So.	Covington, Ga.	Business Management
F	Scottie James	Liberty	Jr.	Tarpon Springs, Fla.	Mechanical Engineering
F	Rob Marberrry	Lipscomb	Sr.	Nashville, Tenn.	Corporate Management
G	Ivan Gandia-Rosa	North Florida	Jr.	Caguas, Puerto Rico	Sport Management
F	Noah Horchler	North Florida	Jr.	Melbourne, Fla.	Criminal Justice
F	Abayomi Iyiola	Stetson	So.	Atlanta, Ga.	Accounting

* - Denotes unanimous selection to preseason team
 
Preseason Coaches' Poll

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

 
 
Preseason Media Poll

Pl	Team	Points (1st Place Votes)
1.	Lipscomb	438 (44)
2.	FGCU	374 (2)
3.	Liberty	338
4.	North Florida	304 (2)
5.	Jacksonville	254 (2)
6.	NJIT	203
7.	Kennesaw St.	147
8.	Stetson	121
9.	North Alabama	71

 
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, the Eagles ranked third in wins in the Sunshine State over the past seven years.
Florida- 152
Miami- 143
FGCU- 141
Florida State- 123
North Florida- 104
UCF- 101
FIU- 86
Jacksonville- 84
 
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: 1-2, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 195-170, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 141-70, 70-22 ASUN
 
THE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE JACKRABBITS
South Dakota State comes to Fort Myers as one of the most formidable mid-major programs in the country, checking into this week's CollegeInsider.com poll at #3, behind only Gonzaga and Buffalo. 
 
The Jackrabbits are coming off of yet another NCAA Tournament appearance after going 28-7 a season ago, winning both the Summit League Regular Season and Tournament Championships. 
 
SDSU is led by star senior Mike Daum who has been named to the Wooden Watch List, the NABC Player of the Year Watch List, the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year Watch List, and the Lute Olson Player of the Year Watch List.  The two-time reigning Summit League Player of the Year and AP All-American is averaging 23.0 points and 12.3 rebounds per game going into Friday night's contest. 
 
The Jackrabbits are 3-0 after wins over Grand Canyon, Alabama State, and Bemidji State to open the year last week. The trip to Alico Arena will mark SDSU's first road trip of the 2018-19 campaign. 
 
SERIES HISTORY
The Eagles and the Jacks have met just twice all-time with the road team winning each of the first two matchups.  Their first meeting came in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 2014 where the Eagles came away with a 71-58 victory fresh off of their Sweet Sixteen run a year prior.  Last time the two hooked up, it was the Jacks coming away with a 56-52 victory here in Fort Myers in a defensive struggle in 2015. 
 
NEXT UP
It will be a quick turnaround for the Eagles as they continue action in the Gulf Coast Showcase on Monday when they take on Toledo in Hertz Arena in a 7:30 PM tip.  Their second round opponent Tuesday will either be Louisiana or Colorado State, depending on Monday's results.
 
PROMOTIONS
As always, there will be lots going on in Alico Arena on Friday night. 
 
- GREENOUT- Fans are encouraged to wear green to show their FGCU spirit. 
- FANSGIVING- Fans bringing at least five canned goods or a new, unwrapped toy, will be entered in a drawing to win FGCU prizes throughout the game.
- WBB RING CEREMONY- The 2017-18 Women's Basketball team will receive their NCAA Tournament rings at halftime. 
 
Along with those things, the game will be the back side of doubleheader action as the Eagle women take on FIU in a 5 PM tip before the men's game. 
 
TICKET INFORMATION
-Get the best value in Southwest Florida with the FGCU Basketball Punch Pass. Three games for $15 or Seven games for $30. Men's games on 12/2, and 12/19. Women's games on 12/14, 12/17, 12/19, and 12/21.  Purchase online by CLICKING HERE
 
-Bring your group of 20 or more to an FGCU basketball game. Group tickets start as low as $7 per person and include a $5 off coupon for game day at The Boardwalk restaurant on the FGCU Waterfront. Contact the ticket office for more information 239-590-7145 or tickets@fgcu.edu.
 
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.