TULSA, Okla. – The FGCU men's basketball team earned a 96-76 victory over Oral Roberts Wednesday night inside Mabee Center.
 
The Eagles (3-8) scored a season-high in points and snapped a six-game losing streak, while the Golden Eagles fell to 3-8 on the year.
 
"Because of the way we've been struggling, that was probably the best win from an emotional standpoint in my time here. That looked like what our program is supposed to look like," FGCU head coach Michael Fly said. "(ORU) played really hard and attacked us on the glass, but our guys made shots tonight. (Senior) Schadrac Casimir and (junior) Decardo Day came up big at the point guard position."
 
Casimir led four FGCU players in double figures with a season-high 24 points. Day and classmate RaySean Scott Jr. both registered a season-best 16 points, and senior Dinero Mercurius added 13 off the bench. In total, 10 different Eagles scored in the victory.
 
FGCU shot 60 percent both overall (33-for-55) and behind the 3-point line (15-for-25), while hitting at an 88.2 percent clip at the free-throw line (15-for-17). The 15 made 3-pointers broke the Mabee Center single-game record by an opponent.
 
ORU shot 51.7 percent (31-for-60) overall, 31.8 percent (7-for-22) from distance and 53.8 percent (7-for-13) at the line. The Golden Eagles were paced by 16 points from Emmanuel Nzekwesi. Aidan Saunders chipped in 14, while DeShang Weaver added 11.
 
The opening 13 minutes saw a whopping 12 lead changes as the two sides fought to pull away from one another. FGCU used a brief 7-0 run to peek on top 40-32 with five minutes remaining in the opening stanza. ORU kept the Eagles within striking distance and held the halftime deficit down to 52-45.
 
The home team dwindled the FGCU advantage to four at one point early in the second half. The Golden Eagles remained close down just 70-62 with 11:16 remaining, but the Eagles went on an 11-0 run to take a commanding lead. That push deflated the home crowd and was all the visitors needed to seize control. FGCU led by as much as 25 points before settling for the final 20-point cushion.

UP NEXT
FGCU continues its brief two-game road swing with a game at UMBC. The two mid-major powers will face off at 7 p.m. Dec. 16 in Baltimore. The contest will be the first between the two programs.
 
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.