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Christian Carlyle vs. FIU

Men's Basketball

PREVIEW: Oklahoma trip on tap for Men's Basketball

FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team continues its non-conference swing with a road trip to Oklahoma. The Eagles (2-8) are set to face Oral Roberts (3-7) from the Summit League at 8 p.m. EST inside the Mabee Center in Tulsa.
 
Matchup: FGCU (2-8) at Oral Roberts (3-7)
Where: Tulsa, Okla. | Mabee Center
When: Wednesday, December 5 | 8 pm EST
Watch: ESPN3
LiveStats: Presto
Series: ORU leads 1-0
Coaches: Michael Fly (1st Season @ FGCU – 2-8; Same Overall) | Paul Mills (2nd Season @ ORU - 14-28; Same Overall)

LAST TIME OUT
The FGCU men's basketball team dropped a 74-56 decision to Colgate this past Sunday afternoon inside Alico Arena. The Eagles 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 the FIU game with a solid 11-point, nine-rebound outing against the Raiders as he works to return from injury.
 
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.

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. 8.7 1. Decardo Day 2.9
2. Schadrac Casimir 10.8 2. Brady Ernst 5.0 2. RaySean Scott, Jr. 2.0
3. Christian Carlyle 10.0 3. Haanif Cheatham 4.8 3. Haanif Cheatham 1.9
FG % 3pt % FT %
1. Brady Ernst .595 1. Zach Scott .478 1. Schadrac Casimir .824
2. Ricky Doyle .520 2. Schadrac Casimir .408 2. Dinero Mercurius .708
3. Christian Carlyle .472 3. Haanif Cheatham .364 3. Haanif Cheatham .650
 
JOURNEY TO 1,000
One current Eagle has already reached the 1,000 point mark as senior transfer Casimir has 1,220 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 38 points shy of the mark, as he has scored 962 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 196-175 as a Division I member. With four 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: 2-8, 0-0 (ASUN)
D-I Total: 196-176, 103-83 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 142-76, 70-22 ASUN
 
SERIES HISTORY
This will mark just the second meeting all-time between the two programs. Oral Roberts scored a victory over the Eagles in Alico Arena on Dec. 16, 2017.

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.
 
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Players Mentioned

Christian Carlyle

#3 Christian Carlyle

G
6' 6"
Junior
Haanif Cheatham

#22 Haanif Cheatham

G
6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
Ricky Doyle

#15 Ricky Doyle

F
6' 10"
Redshirt Senior
Brady Ernst

#21 Brady Ernst

F
6' 10"
Redshirt Junior
Dinero Mercurius

#31 Dinero Mercurius

G
6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
Zach Scott

#4 Zach Scott

G
6' 4"
Freshman
Decardo Day

#0 Decardo Day

G
6' 4"
Junior
Schadrac Casimir

#11 Schadrac Casimir

G
5' 10"
Redshirt Senior

Players Mentioned

Christian Carlyle

#3 Christian Carlyle

6' 6"
Junior
G
Haanif Cheatham

#22 Haanif Cheatham

6' 5"
Redshirt Senior
G
Ricky Doyle

#15 Ricky Doyle

6' 10"
Redshirt Senior
F
Brady Ernst

#21 Brady Ernst

6' 10"
Redshirt Junior
F
Dinero Mercurius

#31 Dinero Mercurius

6' 4"
Redshirt Senior
G
Zach Scott

#4 Zach Scott

6' 4"
Freshman
G
Decardo Day

#0 Decardo Day

6' 4"
Junior
G
Schadrac Casimir

#11 Schadrac Casimir

5' 10"
Redshirt Senior
G