FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team dropped a 74-56 decision to Colgate Sunday afternoon inside Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles (2-8) were led by a season-best performance from freshman Zach Scott, who dropped 13 points off the bench. He also added five rebounds, four steals and a pair of assists. RaySean Scott, Jr. followed up his monster 12-point, 14-rebound effort from Wednesday with a solid 11-point, nine-rebound outing against the Raiders as he works to return from injury.
 
Colgate (6-3) received a double-double from Rapolas Ivanauska, who finished with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Jordan Burns posted a game-high 19 points, and Will Rayman added 11.
 
"Colgate is a really good team, but we came out a little flat. That's something we are going to work to improve on going forward," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "Zach did some really positive things for a freshman. He's earned more playing time because he's playing with effort."
 
FGCU shot 32.4 percent (23-for-71) overall, 19.2 percent (5-for-26) from behind the 3-point line and 62.5 percent (5-for-8) at the free-throw line. The Raiders finished with a 44.8 percent (26-for-58) shooting clip overall, 36.8 percent (7-for-19) from distance and 78.9 percent (15-for-19) at the charity stripe.
 
The contest was a back-and-forth affair through the opening 10 minutes, as the visitors carried a singular 16-15 advantage. The Eagles hit a cold spell for the remainder of the half, as the Raiders were able to use a 14-2 run to build a 30-17 lead. A putback layup from Scott at the end of the opening 20 minutes pushed the first-half score to 30-19 in favor of the visitors.
 
FGCU hung tough in the early stages of the second half, whittling the deficit down to 12 at 40-28 with 16 minutes remaining in the contest. The home side hit another wall, however, as Colgate went on a 25-6 run to create a 31-point gap. The Eagles had plenty of open looks throughout the contest, but just could not get shots to fall.
 
A ferocious full-court press in the final five minutes helped FGCU go on a 22-7 run of its own to cut the deficit down to the final 18-point margin.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU heads to the Midwest for a bout with Oral Roberts that will serve as a return trip from last year's meeting in Fort Myers. The game is slated for an 8 p.m. tip Dec. 5 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. ORU defeated the Eagles 83-64 in the first meeting between the programs on Dec. 16 of last 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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