FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team fell 81-80 to Florida International Wednesday night inside Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles (2-7) recorded eight dunks in the contest, while the Panthers improved to 7-1 on the year.
 
RaySean Scott, Jr. finished with a career-high 14 rebounds and added 12 points off the bench for the first double-double of his career. The junior also tallied four assists and a block in 27 minutes. Classmate Brady Ernst posted a career-high 15 points, while contributing seven boards and three blocks.
 
FGCU had five different players score in double figures, including the senior trio of Dinero Mercurius (14), Haanif Cheatham (14) and Schadrac Casimir (10).
 
The Eagles shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63) from the field, 33.3 percent (6-for-18) from behind the 3-point line and 53.8 percent (14-for-26) at the free-throw stripe.
 
Brian Beard, Jr. tallied a game-high 21 points for the visitors. He was joined in double figures by Devon Andrews (15), Willy Nunez, Jr. (14) and Trejon Jacob (13).
 
The Panthers shot an even 50 percent (32-for-64) from the field and had shooting clips of 36.4 (12-for-33) from distance and 41.7 (5-for-12) at the line.
 
Florida International began the game with a 12-8 edge in the opening five minutes. The home team responded with a 9-0 run to swing momentum to its side of the court. Florida Gulf Coast continued to build that advantage until finding a game-high lead of 15 points at 39-24 with five minutes remaining in the first half. FIU stayed within striking distance, however, and was able to squeeze the deficit down to 41-34 at the break.
 
The visitors erupted out of the locker room and used a 23-6 run in the first six minutes to go on top 57-47. FGCU had to play catch-up from that point on. The Eagles continued to chip away until a 3-pointer from Scott, Jr. with 42 seconds left gave the home side a 79-78 lead. Cheatham made a free throw to give FGCU a two-point edge, but Beard, Jr. had one more dagger in him. He made a contested triple late in the shot clock with 14 seconds left to put FIU up one, and the final two opportunities for FGCU to steal the win ended in narrow misses.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU will look to snap its current five-game losing skid when the team plays host to Colgate at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 2 inside Alico Arena. The single contest will be the second of five Blueouts scheduled for this season.
 
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.
 
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 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.
 
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