ESTERO, FL – The FGCU men's basketball team, (2-3) suffered a 90-62 loss to Toledo (3-1) in its opening round game of the Gulf Coast Showcase at Hertz Arena Monday night.

Offensively for the Eagles, they were led by Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenney HS) and Haanif Cheatham (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Marquette/Pembroke Pines HS) who both scored 13 points apiece as Cheatham finished with a season-high seven rebounds.

For Toledo, Jaelan Sanford led the offensive attack with game-high 18 points as he went 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Luke Knapke dropped 13 points and collected nine rebounds as Marreon Jackson chipped in 12 points.

"All credit to Toledo tonight," said head coach Michael Fly. "They competed and played with toughness and we did not. The great thing about this situation is we get a chance to correct it tomorrow. We talk about the pillars of our program being defense, rebounding and ball movement and tonight we did none of the three. We will get that corrected."

Down as much as eight (15-7) approaching the 13 minute mark, the Eagles kept clawing away at the Toledo lead, cutting the deficit as much as two (15-13) after a jumper from Ricky Doyle (Cape Coral, FL/Michigan/Bishop Verot HS) fell through with 12:36 remaining in the first stanza. In the final 10 minutes, the Green and Blue got as close as three points (25-22) before the Rockets closed out the final eight minutes going on a 17-3 spurt to close the half going up 42-25.

Toledo was red-hot from the field, shooting 55 percent in the first 20 minutes, going 8-of-13 (62 percent) from beyond the arc as FGCU struggled only shooting 33 percent from the floor (11-of-33).

Offensively for the Eagles in the second half, it was a much more efficient outing as they came out and made their first 6-of-7 shots to reach the under 12 media timeout. Meanwhile, the Toledo attack could not be contained as the Rockets reached the charity stripe 24 times in the second half, making 20 of those attempts as they finished the nightcap shooting at a 50-percent clip (29-of-57) from the floor, draining a total of 12 treys.

FGCU finished the final half going 16-of-30 from the field as the Eagles ended the night shooting 43 percent (27-of-63).

UP NEXT
The Eagles will face Colorado State (3-1) Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 pm in Hertz Arena.

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.

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.