OXFORD, Miss. – The FGCU men's basketball team fell to Ole Miss 87-57 Saturday afternoon inside The Pavilion at Ole Miss.
 
The Eagles concluded the non-conference portion of their schedule with a 5-10 mark, while the Rebels improved to 10-2 on the season.
 
"A lot of how today went is credit to coach (Kermit) Davis. (Ole Miss) did a really good job defensively," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "They came out with a lot of energy to start the game. We responded in a positive way, but we just couldn't get back into it after they had a little bit of a run at the end of the half. We also missed some shots around the rim that we normally make.
 
"We never accept losing in this program, but today was a good learning experience. The positive I take away from the game is we competed for the most part, which is something I'm concerned about more than anything else. "
 
RaySean Scott Jr. led the Green and Blue with a season-best 18 points, while landing one rebound shy of his second career double-double. The junior forward shot 8-for-10 from the field and knocked down both of his 3-point attempts. Senior Dinero Mercurius rained three triples and finished with 12 points in 13 minutes off the bench, while junior Decardo Day helped with eight points and a game-high seven assists.
 
FGCU ended with a 40.4 (21-for-52) shooting percentage, 37.5 percent (6-for-16) from behind the 3-point line and 75 percent (9-for-12) from the free-throw line. Ole Miss shot 51.7 percent (31-for-60) from the field, 48 percent (12-for-25) from downtown and 72.2 percent (13-for-18) at the line.
 
Terence Davis paced the home club with 20 points. Breein Tyree contributed 14, while Blake Hinson, Devontae Shuler and Bruce Stevens all added 11 points.
 
Ole Miss scored the game's first seven points as the Eagles had a tough time settling into the contest. FGCU was able to dwindle the deficit down to two at 9-7 before the Rebels regained a double-digit lead of 26-13. The visitors briefly were able to peak back inside that 10-point mark after a 3-pointer from Scott Jr. cut Ole Miss' lead to 29-20 at the 4:52 mark. But the Rebels outscored FGCU 15-6 the rest of the half to find a 44-26 lead at intermission.
 
The home team also won the second half 43-31 to reach the final margin.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU will ring in the new year with the ASUN Conference opener. The Eagles will play host to league newcomer Liberty at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 inside Alico Arena in the second game of a doubleheader with the FGCU women. The contests are the second Greenout of the year.
 
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.
 
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM --