SUNRISE, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team fell 77-56 to Florida in the Metro by T-Mobile Orange Bowl Classic Saturday night inside BB&T Center.
 
The Eagles (5-9) saw their three-game win streak halted, while the Gators were able to improve to 7-4 on the year.
 
"We did some positive things primarily in the first half. We stuck to our game plan and executed both offensively and in our zone," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "We had some slippage at the very end of the first half. We then let (Florida) jump out on us in the first couple of minutes in the second half. Once you give a really good team like that a cushion, it's really hard to get back into the game."
 
Sophomore Troy Baxter Jr. finished the night with a team-leading 13 points, marking his first time reaching double figures in eight games. He also pulled down a career-high seven rebounds in the contest. Senior Schadrac Casimir continued his torrid stretch from the free-throw line, ending the night with 10 points thanks in part to a 6-for-6 effort from the charity stripe.
 
FGCU shot 39.1 percent (18-for-46) from the field, 14.3 percent (2-for-14) from behind the 3-point line and 66.7 percent (18-for-27) from the free-throw stripe. UF finished with a 45.2 percent (28-for-62) effort overall, 36.7 percent (11-for-30) from distance and 71.4 percent (10-for-14) at the foul marker.
 
Noah Locke paced the Gators with 15 points, while Jalen Hudson contributed 14 off the bench. Kevarrius Hayes tallied 12 points, and Deaundrae Ballard added 11.
 
After a tightly-contested opening handful of minutes, Florida was able to secure a 23-8 advantage at the midway point of the first half.
 
FGCU would not go away quietly, however. The Green and Blue mounted a 14-3 run to pull within four, but the Gators edged out another mini run to close out the frame with a 37-26 lead. Florida was able to stretch its lead out to beyond the 20-mark margin in the second half, and the Eagles could not find a way back into the game the rest of the way.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU will take a week off to observe the holiday season before returning to action on the road against Ole Miss. The Eagles and Rebels will meet at 2 p.m. Dec. 29 in Oxford, Mississippi. The game will be broadcast live on SECN+.
 
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:
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.
 
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.
 
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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