ESTERO, FL – The FGCU men's basketball team (2-4) suffered its second-straight loss in the Gulf Coast Showcase as the Eagles fell to Colorado State (4-1), 82-74, Tuesday afternoon at Hertz Arena.

Haanif Cheatham (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Marquette/Pembroke Pines HS) led all Eagles in scoring with 18 points and six rebounds as Schadrac Casimir (Samford, Conn./Iona/Trinity Catholic HS) scored 12 points, going 3-of-10 from beyond the arc. Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenney HS) chipped in 10 points with Dinero Mercurius (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Christian) adding seven points along with three steals playing all 40 minutes.

On the Colorado State side, Bonner Masinton and Kendle Moore each dropped a game-high 17 points as the duo combined to go 13-of-18 from the field. Adam Thistlewood chipped in 12 points off the bench for the Rams.

"Credit Colorado State, I thought for most of the game they played harder and better than us," said head coach Michael Fly. "I thought we turned it on at the end which unfortunately has been a theme for us the last week or so. We aren't getting to a point where defense and rebounding are important to us until we get down. Then we start to defend and rebound, so then we get back in the game. I just told those guys, right now I got to get them to buy in to defending and rebounding and when we do that, which we will, then we'll get good."

Casimir gave FGCU the lead on two occasions during the first half, all coming from beyond the arc. The first one came at the 18:44 mark and the second one being with 17:22 on the clock (8-7). Freshman Zach Scott (Miami, Fla./Westminster Academy) started to heat up from behind the three-point line nailing back-to-back treys to inch FGCU within one possession at the 9:35 mark before a 7-0 run gave CSU a 26-18 lead going into the under eight media timeout. From there, Brady Ernst's (Clinton, Iowa/Indian Hills/Iowa State/Clinton HS) layup sparked an 8-0 run for the Eagles as he scored six of those points with his dunk tying the affair at 26-26 with just over five minutes remaining in the first period.

Carlyle's jumper with 2:26 left gave FGCU its first lead since the first three minutes of the half but the Rams would close out the period going on an 8-0 spurt, fueled by three FGCU turnovers to lead 40-32.

FGCU shot 47 percent (13-of-28) from the field in the first half while CSU shot at a 57-percent clip (17-of-30).

Troy Baxter Jr. (Tallahassee, Fla./UNLV/Oldsmar Christian HS) provided FGCU some much-needed energy off the bench as six of his final eight points came inside the first nine minutes of the second half. Down as much as 19 (65-46) with 8:52 left, the Eagles began to chip away at the Ram's lead. Over the next two minutes, Cheatham sank seven of his 18 points to bring the Green and Blue within 11 (67-56). Continuing to attack the rim, the Fort Lauderdale native made it a 71-66 after a layup and a free throw fell through with 3:31 remaining. On the next possession, Mercurius converted a steal into a pair of points at the foul line to cut CSU's margin to 71-68.

From there the Eagles would get within four points twice, before the Rams closed out the contest on an 11-6 run, going 4-of-4 at the free throw line.

In the losing effort, FGCU shot 46 percent from the field as Colorado State connected on nearly 60 percent of its shots.

UP NEXT
FGCU will face UTSA (0-5) in its final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase. Tipoff is scheduled for 11 am.

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.