FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team is slated to face Florida at 5 p.m. Dec. 22 in the Metro by T-Mobile Orange Bowl Basketball Classic. The fifth all-time meeting between the two programs will be held on neutral grounds inside BB&T Center, which is the home of the NHL's Florida Panthers.
The Eagles (5-8) are on a season-best three-game win streak, while the Gators (6-4) are receiving votes in both the AP Top 25 and USA Today Coaches Polls.
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Matchup: Florida (6-4) vs. FGCU (5-8)
Where: Sunrise, Fla.
| BB&T Center
When: Saturday, December 22
| 5 pm
Watch: FS2, Fox Sports Sun (PxP: Dave O'Brien,
Color: Bob Wenzel,
Sideline: Kelly Saco)
Radio: Fox Sports Fort Myers (PxP: David Moulton,
Color: Greg Anderson)
Live Stats: Statbroadcast
Series: UF leads 4-0
Coaches:Â
Michael Fly (1st Season @ FGCU – 5-8; Same Overall)Â
| Michael White (4th Season @ UF - 75-41; 176-81 Overall)
LAST TIME OUT
FGCU mounted a late rally to knock off Keiser 87-85 Wednesday night inside Alico Arena. The Eagles won their third-straight contest, while the game served as an exhibition for the Seahawks. The Green and Blue were led by a monster performance from
Zach Scott. He scored 25 points on 9-of-12 shooting, which marked the highest total by an Eagle this season. The true freshman was also 6-for-8 from behind the arc. Classmate
Caleb Catto ended his night with 12 points, marking his first voyage into double-digit scoring.
Senior
Schadrac Casimir contributed 14 points, while going 9-for-9 from the free-throw line. He also hit the game-winning foul shots with 2.7 seconds remaining in the game. Junior
RaySean Scott Jr. filled the stat sheet with 12 rebounds, eight points, four blocks, three steals, and two assists.
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.
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EAGLE LEADERS
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JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Casimir has 1,272 career points. He scored 1,112 of those points in NCAA Tournament campaigns at Iona prior to transferring to FGCU.
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Mercurius continues to inch closer to the 1,000-point plateau. He sits just 13 points shy of the mark, as he has scored 987 combined points between stops at USF, Daytona State and now at FGCU.
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Haanif Cheatham will land just shy of the plateau. He suffered a season-ending injury and will end his career with 876 points.
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MILESTONE WATCH
As a program, the Eagles are currently 198-175 as a Division I member. With two more victories, they will join the 200-win club.Â
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EAGLES PICKED 2ND, CHEATHAM HONORED IN PRESEASON RELEASE
2018-19 ASUN Men's Basketball Preseason Honors and Awards
Preseason Player of the Year:Â Garrison Mathews, Lipscomb
Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:Â 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 |
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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.
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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
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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.
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2007-08:Â 10-21, 6-10 ASUN (T-8th)
2008-09:Â 11-20, 7-13 ASUN (9th)
2009-10:Â 8-21, 5-15 ASUN (T-10th)
2010-11:Â 10-20, 7-13 ASUN (7th)
2011-12:Â 15-17, 8-10 ASUN (T-6th)
2012-13:Â 26-11, 13-5 ASUN (2nd)
2013-14:Â 22-13, 14-4 ASUN (T-1st)
2014-15:Â 22-11, 11-3 ASUN (2nd)
2015-16:Â 21-14, 8-6 ASUN (T-2nd)
2016-17:Â 26-8, 12-2 ASUN (1st)
2017-18:Â 23-12, 12-2 (ASUN (1st)
2018-19: 5-8, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total:Â 199-176, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years:Â 145-76, 70-22 ASUN
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SERIES HISTORY
Florida has won all four prior meetings between the two programs. The first game in the series was a UF victory in Gainesville in 2008. Florida also topped FGCU in Arlington, Texas, in 2013. The Gators then won in both 2015 and 2016 by double-digits.
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.
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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 onÂ
FGCUTickets.com.
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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.
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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.
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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: Women vs UAB. 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 an FGCU hat ($15 value), a $5 game day discount at The Boardwalk restaurant, in game group recognition and more. For more information on group outings, click
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.
Military Appreciation Games
Military Appreciation Night is Saturday, January 5. Discounted tickets are available for current or former Military and their families. Women's tickets start at $8 each and Men's tickets start at $9 each and the first 50 military discount orders include a free $10 gift card for Mission BBQ. Purchase online
HERE or call 239-590-7145.
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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 inÂ
Sherwood Brown andÂ
Brandon Goodwin, and two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections inÂ
Bernard Thompson andÂ
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 leaderÂ
Brett Comer (845; 24th in NCAA history) and FGCU all-time leading rebounderÂ
Chase Fieler (714).
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SUPPORT THE CAUSEÂ
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.
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