FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team returns home for the third time this season to play host to Florida International at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 28 at Alico Arena. The game will be presented by Dunkin' Donuts.

The Eagles (2-6) have hit a four-game skid, while the Panthers (6-1) are enjoying the best start to a season in school history.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU dropped an 85-68 decision to Florida Atlantic Sunday afternoon inside FAU Arena. Senior Haanif Cheatham led FGCU with a 20-point effort on the strength of a 7-for-11 shooting performance. Fellow seniors Schadrac Casimir and Dinero Mercurius both chipped in 15 points. FGCU finished with a 45.1 clip (23-for-51) from the field, while shooting 36.4 percent (8-for-22) from distance and 77.8 percent (14-for-18) at the free-throw line.

Xavian Stapleton poured in six 3-point baskets and finished with a career-high 27 points. Jailyn Ingram had a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Jaylen Sebree registered 12 points off the bench. FAU shot 48.5 percent (32-for-66) from the field, 33.3 percent (11-for-33) from behind the 3-point arc and 58.8 percent (10-for-17) at the free-throw line.

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 State, Southeastern, Michigan State, South Dakota State, 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	14.5	1. Christian Carlyle	4.9	1. Decardo Day	2.9
2. Christian Carlyle	11.9	2. Haanif Cheatham	4.8	2. Christian Carlyle	2.0
3. Schadrac Casimir	11.3	3. Brady Ernst	4.4	3. Haanif Cheatham	1.9
FG %		3pt %		FT %
1. Christian Carlyle	.516	1. Zach Scott	.500	1. Schadrac Casimir	.857
2. Brady Ernst	.500	2. Schadrac Casimir	.444	2. Dinero Mercurius	.765
3. Ricky Doyle	.500	3. Haanif Cheatham	.368	3. Zach Scott	.667

 
JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Casimir has 1,202 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 943 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 826 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 Marberry	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: 2-6, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 196-174, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 142-74, 70-22 ASUN
 
SERIES HISTORY
FGCU and Florida International are all locked up at 5-5 in the all-time series. The Panthers captured the opening two contests in 2002 and 2004, but the green and blue picked up the next three triumphs stretching from 2007-12. FIU has won three of the last five meetings. FGCU is 3-1 against the Panthers in Alico 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.
 
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.
 
WE'VE GOT YOUR SEAT
Experience FGCU Basketball this season. The following ticket opportunities are on sale now:
•            Punch Pass
Three entries for $15 or seven entries for $30. Remaining Punch Pass Games: Men vs Colgate and Keiser; Women vs Johnson and Wales, Abilene Christian, Coppin State, and UAB. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.
•            Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets are available for all remaining home games. Discounts are available for current or former Military and Youth ages 3-15. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.
•            Group Sales
Bring your group of 20 or more to an FGCU Men's or Women's Basketball game. All group tickets include a $5 game day discount at The Boardwalk restaurant and in game group recognition. For more information on group outings, click HERE or call 239-590-7145.
•            Young Alumni
FGCU Alumni from the classes of 2014-2018 save 30-70% off of Priority 4 or 5 GA tickets. Click HERE to fill out an interest form, or call 239-590-7145 to learn more.
 
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.