FORT MYERS, FL.- The FGCU men's basketball team will be featured as the nightcap Monday when the Eagles open up their first game of the Gulf Coast Showcase taking on Toledo at Hertz Arena.

With an Eagles' win, they will play Tuesday night at 7:30 pm against the winner of the Colorado State/Louisiana matchup. A loss will have the Eagles playing the loser of Colorado State/Louisiana game Tuesday at 1:30 pm. With another victory on Tuesday, FGCU would play in the championship game Wednesday at 7:30 pm.   
 
MONDAY MATCHUPS
South Dakota State vs Tulane @ 11:30 am
UC Irvine vs UTSA @ 1:30 pm
Louisiana vs Colorado State @ 5:30 pm
FGCU vs Toledo @ 7:30 pm

LAST TIME OUT
The Eagles handed South Dakota State – who came in ranked #3 in the Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Top 25 Poll – its first loss of the season Friday night. Down seven at the break (37-30), FGCU used a 54-point second half performance to come out on top, 84-78. Tied at 66-66 with a little under four minutes remaining in regulation, Dinero Mercurius (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Christian) drained a three-pointer to break the tie before the Jackrabbits knotted the affair once again with under 2:30 left on the clock.

The momentum shifted into FGCU's favor in a six-second stretch with under 1:30 to go as Schadrac Casimir (Samford, Conn./Iona/Trinity Catholic HS) scored on a drive to the bucket as he would intercept the following inbound pass for an easy layup to give the Eagles a 76-74 lead. SDSU would get within one (79-78) with 19 seconds left but five points from Mercurius – three from the free throw line – in the closing seconds would seal the deal for the Eagles as he capped off his night with 14 points. 

TICKETS
Tickets will be available for purchase by visiting Hertzarena.com and the box office or through Ticketmaster.com. Tournament passes are available for $74, $99 or $149 per tournament with single session tickets ranging from $10 general admission to $45 courtside for each two-game session. Each day of the tournament will feature an afternoon session (starting at 11 a.m.) and evening session (5 p.m.).

SUCCESS AT HOME 
It'll feel a lot like home when the Eagles tip-off against the Rockets Monday night at Hertz Arena (formerly known as Germain Arena) with it being just miles down the road. Meanwhile, at its home venue, FGCU is 91-20 all-time.

GULF COAST SHOWCASE
This will mark the second appearance in the Showcase tournament for FGCU, the first one coming back in 2014. In that year, the Green and Blue collected wins over Marist (58-43) and San Francisco (62-47) before falling in the championship game to Green Bay (59-49).

Since its inaugural in 2013 – which caters to Mid-Major programs – this year's tournament looks to be one of the most competitive fields in the past six years. Including FGCU, eight teams will be competing Monday through Wednesday. Out of the eight teams, four are currently ranked in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll – #3 SDSU, #12 Louisiana, #13 Toledo, and #23 UC Irvine.

On one side of the bracket, you have SDSU (3-1), Tulane (1-1), UC Irvine (4-0), and UTSA (0-3) while the other draw features FGCU, Toledo, Louisiana (1-2) and Colorado State (3-0).
 
TOUGH ROAD
FGCU plays one of the toughest 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. South Dakota State, played in the NCAA Tournament a year ago.
 
EAGLE LEADERS

Points Per Game		Rebounds Per Game		Assists Per Game
1. Troy Baxter	13.5	1. Christian Carlyle	5.8	1. Decardo Day	3.5
2. Schadrac Casimir	11.8	2. Haanif Cheatham	4.5	2. Haanif Cheatham	2.5
Christian Carlyle	11.8	3. Troy Baxter Jr.	4.0	3. Christian Carlyle	2.3
FG %		3pt %		FT %
1. Zach Scott	.615	1. Zach Scott	.714	1. Schadarac Casimir	1.000
2. Schadarac Casimir	.517	2. Schadarac Casimir	.600	2. Dinero Mercurius	.857
3. Haanif Cheatham	.512	3. Dinero Mercurius	.450	3. Troy Baxter Jr.	.600

 
JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Casimir has 1,159 career points, most of those coming at Iona where he transferred from. 
 
Mercurius is the next closest, as he is just under 100 points away from reaching the mark.  His 909 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 1,000 point mark in his sights as he currently sits at 761 career points.  
 
MILESTONE WATCH
As a program, the Eagles are currently 196-170 as a Division I member.  With four 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- 153
Miami- 143
FGCU- 142
Florida State- 124
North Florida- 105
UCF- 102
FIU- 87
Jacksonville- 85
 
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: 2-2, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 196-170, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 142-70, 70-22 ASUN
 
THE TOLEDO ROCKETS
Ranked #13 in the Collegeinsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, Toledo comes into Southwest Florida with an overall 2-1 record, led by head coach Tod Kowalczyk who's in his 9th season with the program. Over the last five seasons, he's guided the Rockets to a trio of 20-win campaigns. Toledo ended last year with a 23-11 record, going 13-5 in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) as they claimed the MAC West Division crown.

Forward Willie Jackson is close to averaging a double-double through three games as the 6-6 junior is dropping 13.3 points per game while grabbing nine rebounds a contest and 1.3 assists per game. Behind him, junior Luke Knapke is averaging 12.3 points, pairing that with 6.3 boards per contest while senior Nate Navigato is third on the team in scoring with 12 points per game. The Rockets are shooting 49 percent from the field and 39 percent from beyond the arc.

Toledo's first two wins of the season came against Oakland (87-86) and Wilberforce (Ohio) (99-58). Their first loss came last Wednesday at the hands of Wright State (84-74).      
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the fourth all-time meeting between the Eagles and the Rockets Monday night as FGCU leads series 2-1. Both teams faced off against each other in three-straight years from 2010-12. After dropping the first meeting, 73-65 on the road, the Eagles won the following two contests in Alico Arena (83-80, 2011 and 72-66, 2012).

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 156-86 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.