FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team hits the road for a showdown with fellow mid-major power UMBC. The Eagles (3-8) and Retrievers (6-5) will lock up at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 in Baltimore.

UMBC pulled an FGCU last season and made history by becoming the first No. 16 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Championship. The Eagles became the first No. 15 seed in NCAA Championship history to reach the Sweet Sixteen in 2013.
 
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU snapped a six-game losing streak with a 20-point blowout win on the road at Oral Roberts on Dec. 5. Four different Eagles scored in double figures and six had at least eight points, led by a season-high 24 from Schadrac Casimir. The Green and Blue toppled the Golden Eagles 96-76, scoring a season high in the process.

RaySean Scott Jr. and Decardo Day scored 16 points, and Dinero Mercurius added 13. FGCU shot a ridiculous 60 percent (15-for-25) from behind the 3-point line, breaking the single-game Mabee Center record for 3-point baskets made by an opposing team.

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	13.2	1. RaySean Scott Jr.	8.5	1. Decardo Day	3.3
2. Schadrac Casimir	12.0	2. Brady Ernst	4.9	2. RaySean Scott Jr.	2.0
3. RaySean Scott Jr.	9.9	3. Haanif Cheatham	4.8	3. Christian Carlyle	2.0
FG %		3pt %		FT %
1. Brady Ernst	.600	1. Zach Scott	.480	1. Schadrac Casimir	.789
2. Ricky Doyle	.520	2. Schadrac Casimir	.474	2. Decardo Day	.750
3. Troy Baxter Jr.	.477	3. Haanif Cheatham	.364	3. Dinero Mercurius	.724

 
JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Casimir has 1,244 career points. He scored 1,112 of those points in NCAA Tournament campaigns at Iona prior to transferring to FGCU.
 
Mercurius continues to inch closer to the 1,000-point plateau. He sits just 24 points shy of the mark, as he has scored 976 combined points 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 876 career points.  
 
MILESTONE WATCH
As a program, the Eagles are currently 197-175 as a Division I member. With three 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
Florida- 153
Miami- 143
FGCU- 142
Florida State- 124
North Florida- 106
UCF- 102
FIU- 87
Jacksonville- 85
 
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: 3-8, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 197-176, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 143-76, 70-22 ASUN
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will be the first meeting between FGCU and UMBC.

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.

ABOUT FGCU
FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 73 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Seven FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport – including both men's and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.