FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Florida Gulf Coast men's basketball team is set to head across Alligator Alley for a game against Florida Atlantic at 3 p.m. Nov. 25 inside FAU Arena.

The Eagles (2-5) come into the contest on the heels of three-straight setbacks to close out the Gulf Coast Showcase, while the Owls (5-1) have picked up three wins in a row after suffering their first setback of the year to Georgia Southern.
 
LAST TIME OUT
The FGCU men's basketball team lost to UTSA 76-65 in the final game of the Gulf Coast Showcase Wednesday inside Hertz Arena. FGCU had three players score in double-digits led by Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenney HS) with 16 points. Schadrac Casimir (Samford, Conn./Iona/Trinity Catholic HS) and Haanif Cheatham (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Marquette/Pembroke Pines HS) both added 14 points each as Cheatham finished with four rebounds. Brady Ernst (Clinton, Iowa/Indian Hills/Iowa State/Clinton HS) – who got his third start of the year – snagged a game-high 11 rebounds. UTSA was led Jhivvan Jackson with 21 points off the bench while Keaton Wallace added 19 points and Nick Allen chipping in 13 points.

FGCU shot 39 percent from the field – its lowest mark of the season – despite winning the paint battle 32-30. UTSA ended the contest shooting 45 percent from the floor.

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. 

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. Haanif Cheatham	13.7	1. Haanif Cheatham	5.0	1. Decardo Day	3.3
2. Christian Carlyle	12.3	2. Christian Carlyle	4.9	2. Haanif Cheatham	1.9
3. Schadarac Casimir	10.7	3. Brady Ernst	4.6	3. Christian Carlyle	1.7
FG %		3pt %		FT %
1. Brady Ernst	.550	1. Zach Scott	.529	1. Schadarac Casimir	.857
2. Christian Carlyle	.508	2. Schadarac Casimir	.448	2. Dinero Mercurius	.750
3. Zach Scott	.500	3. Haanif Cheatham	.412	3. Ricky Doyle	.625

 
JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Casimir has 1,187 career points, most of those coming at Iona where he transferred from. 
 
Mercurius is the next closest, as he is less than 100 points away from reaching the mark. His 928 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, Cheatham also has the 1,000 point mark in his sights as he currently sits at 806 career points.  
 
MILESTONE WATCH
As a program, the Eagles are currently 196-173 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 (entering Nov. 24):
Florida- 154
Miami- 145
FGCU- 142
Florida State- 127
North Florida- 106
UCF- 103
FIU- 89
Jacksonville- 87
 
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 sixth place in the ASUN the first five years, FGCU has finished no worse than a tie for second 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: 2-5, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 196-173, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 142-73, 70-22 ASUN
 
SERIES HISTORY
The series is tied at 2-2, with both programs owning victories on each others courts. Florida Atlantic captured the initial matchup in Boca Raton on Dec. 8, 2007. The Eagles returned the favor in Fort Myers the following year and peaked ahead in the series by winning at FAU in 2016. The Owls evened the brief rivalry back up by snatching a four-point win inside Alico Arena on Dec. 5, 2017.

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 fourth 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.