DUNK CITY, Fla. – Looking to bounce back from an uncharacteristic home loss which snapped the nation's 4th-longest winning streak on Thursday, the FGCU men's basketball team will face the No. 2 team in the ASUN standings on Senior Night and Homecoming Weekend when the Eagles battle Lipscomb on Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
WHAT TO KNOW
> BLUE OUT: All fans in attendance are encouraged to wear blue to create a blueout atmosphere.
> SENIOR NIGHT: FGCU will honor Joshua Ko, Antravious Simmons, Brandon Goodwin and Christian Terrell, along with graduating managers, beginning at approximately 6:40 p.m.
> DOUBLEHEADER: The FGCU women face Lipscomb at 4 p.m.
> PRESENTING GAME SPONSOR: Wells Fargo
 
In conjunction with Homecoming Weekend, several former men's and women's basketball players will be returning to campus and playing in an Alumni Game. That contest between Team Blue and Team White is scheduled to begin at 12:30 p.m. at Alico Arena, and the public is encouraged to attend with complimentary admission.
 
Team White: Julian DeBose, Darren Wallace, Derrick O'Neal, Chad Lutkenhaus, Marcus Watts, Doug Kollmer, Leon Woodstock, Stephanie Haas and Sydnei McCaskill.
 
Team Blue: Zach Christian, Andy French, Eddie Murray, Marcus Blake, Roman Brown, Thomas Owens, Jenna Cobb and Mikala McGhee.
 
SETTING THE STAGE
FGCU will be seeking a bounce-back performance after suffering its first ASUN loss of the season on Thursday to Kennesaw State, 97-93. The Owls' triumph snapped the Eagles' 13-game winning streak overall – which was the longest in Division-I program history – their 15-game ASUN winning streak and their 15-game stretch of victories over Kennesaw State.
 
FGCU had already secured its second-straight outright ASUN regular-season title – third overall in five years – before Thursday's game as no one can catch the Eagles and their No. 1 seed in the conference tournament with still two games remaining in the regular season. Lipscomb enters the contest as the closest competitor as the Bisons are alone in 2nd place with an 8-4 league mark.
 
ASUN STANDINGS (By Current Tournament Seed)
1) FGCU: 11-1
2) Lipscomb: 8-4
3) NJIT: 6-6
4) Jacksonville: 6-6
5) Kennesaw State: 6-6
6) North Florida: 6-6
7) Stetson: 3-9
8) USC Upstate: 2-10
 
RECAPPING THE FIRST MATCHUP
FGCU defeated Lipscomb, 88-83, on Jan. 18 as the Eagles mounted the largest comeback in program history amidst many travel issues.
 
Trailing 66-48 with less than 13 minutes remaining, FGCU head coach Joe Dooley switched to a 2-3 zone and immediately stymied the powerful Bisons' attack. Lipscomb converted a layup at the 12-minute mark against the defense, but after that it went on a nine-minute field goal drought as FGCU put together an incredible 33-4 run to create an 81-70 lead and put the game out of reach.
 
The Eagles didn't arrive in Nashville until early afternoon the day of the game due to flight issues the night before. FGCU had its flight from Fort Myers to Atlanta the previous night delayed by more than four hours, and then had its connection to Nashville canceled. The Eagles did not have a shootaround the day of the game, and several players were still missing their luggage at the time of the game, prompting new shoes and other gear to be purchased just hours before tipoff.
 
TWEETABLES
1) The 97 points FGCU allowed in regulation on Thursday are tied for the 3rd-most in D-I program history: 102 by ETSU in 2008-09; 99 by Mercer in 2007-08; 97 by Michigan State in 2009-10.
2) The 93 points FGCU scored against Kennesaw State were the most ever in a losing effort in program history, which dates to 2002-03.
3) FGCU shot 56.7 percent (34-60) from the floor versus Kennesaw State, tied for its highest percentage in an ASUN loss in program history (56.7; 34-60 against Jacksonville in 2015-16).
4) After leading the nation in points in the paint per game (41.3) last year, FGCU is averaging exactly 41.3 again this year.
5) The Eagles have posted three single-digit turnover games in the last five contests after having just two such performances in the first 24 games this year.
 
OPENING-TIP ITEMS
^ The Eagles have not lost consecutive ASUN regular-season home games since the 2011-12 season. FGCU has lost three ASUN games total in the last two years; all three have come at home.
 
^ The game features two of the best rebounding teams in the nation as Lipscomb has grabbed the 14th-most rebounds in the country (1,086), while FGCU has collected the 4th-most (1,129).
 
^ FGCU has held five of its first 12 ASUN opponents under 60 points. In the other 36 league games played so far this year, there have only been four total occurrences of a team not scoring 60.
 
^ FGCU is on pace to set a single-season D-I program scoring record (80.3), and is just behind last year's record-setting field goal pace of .499 as the Eagles are currently sitting at .497.
 
^ The Eagles have lost three times this year when scoring 85 or more points – something that hadn't happened even once since the first year of the program in 2002-03 (three times that season).
 
^ Making the performance this year even more impressive is that FGCU hasn't had a single game yet this season where all 12 scholarship players have been healthy/eligible. Christian Carlyle (ankle) and RaySean Scott Jr. (illness) both did not play on Thursday. Carlyle (Jacksonville, Fla./Bishop Kenny HS) is one of the team's best defenders, while Scott Jr. (Compton, Calif./Compton HS) was coming off a career-high 21-point effort in FGCU's last game.
 
SERIES HISTORY: Lipscomb Leads, 11-9
FGCU's .450 winning percentage against the Bisons is the lowest among any current ASUN member as Lipscomb is the only school in the ASUN which has a winning record against the Eagles. FGCU has won five of the last seven meetings to crawl back into the all-time series. However, one of those losses came at Alico Arena last year, 65-60.
 
SCOUTING LIPSCOMB
^ Lipscomb has won seven of its last eight games since losing to FGCU to drop its ASUN record to 1-3. The lone setback in that stretch came at home against NJIT as the Highlanders closed the game on a 14-0 run to pick up an 81-77 win.
^ The Bisons are coming off an 82-73 victory at Stetson on Thursday night.
^ Lipscomb has taken the 2nd-most free throws (689) in the nation, and made the 5th-most (489). In ASUN games, the Bisons are leading the league in points at 85.8 per contest, but rank last in 3-point percentage (.318).
^ Garrison Mathews leads the ASUN and ranks 16th in the country by averaging 21.7 points per game. He and Rob Marberry (15.9) account for nearly half of Lipscomb's points.
 
LEADING THE PACK
In ASUN play, FGCU leads the league in almost every key category – and does so by a wide margin in many cases:
 
Points Per Game Allowed
1) FGCU: 67.3
2) NJIT: 73.2
 
Scoring Margin
1) FGCU: +15.2
2) Lipscomb: +4.1
 
Field Goal Percentage
1) FGCU: .522
2) North Florida: .481
 
Field Goal Percentage Defense
1) FGCU: .402
2) Jacksonville: .441
 
Rebound Margin
1) FGCU: +10.2
2) Lipscomb: +6.6
 
THE ONLY ONE
By picking up 20 wins this year, FGCU has become the first school in the history of the ASUN (since 1978-79) to secure six-consecutive 20-win seasons.
 
COMEBACK KINGS
Twice this year FGCU has overcome 18-point deficits to win (at Lipscomb: trailed 66-48; at USC Upstate: trailed 32-14). Those 18-point comebacks are the largest in program history, besting the previous mark of 17 set twice in the 2005-06 season and the 16-point D-I record last year against UT Arlington.
 
Against Lipscomb, FGCU posted an incredible 33-4 run to overcome the deficit, and versus USC Upstate the Eagles shot a torrid 72.7 percent in the 2nd half, scoring 56 of their 59 points in the paint or at the free-throw line to outscore the Spartans, 59-27.
 
DOMINANT IN THE PAINT
In the first eight years of the program's D-I history (2007-15), FGCU scored 50 or more points in the paint against another D-I opponent just twice. Since the start of the 2015-16 season, the Eagles have accomplished that feat 13 times.
 
Over the past six games, the Eagles have scored an incredible 354 points in the paint, coming out to an average of 50.6 per contest.
 
#DEPTHCITY
FGCU has had 11 different players already this year reach double-figure points in a game – tied for the 5th-most in the nation. Below is a list of players who have scored 10 or more points in a game this season, how many times they have led (or tied) the team in scoring and their season high.
 
Brandon Goodwin: 28 (13 – 1 tie)
Zach Johnson: 27 (9)
Christian Terrell: 23 (5 – 1 tie)
RaySean Scott Jr.: 21 (1)
Christian Carlyle: 18
Dinero Mercurius: 16 (1)
Antravious Simmons: 15 (1)
Michael Gilmore: 14
Darnell Rogers: 11
Ricky Doyle: 11
Brady Ernst: 10
 
In a further testament to the depth, every scholarship player for FGCU has a positive plus/minus ratio on the year – one season after every single player on the roster finished with a positive plus/minus ratio (while a player is on the court, the points scored by FGCU compared with the opponent). Additionally, FGCU has 11 different players who are averaging double-figure minutes.
 
HOME SUCCESS
Since 2012-13, FGCU is 39-6 (.867) in the regular season against ASUN opponents at Alico Arena. Including ASUN Tournament games in that same stretch, the Eagles are 47-8 (.854) at home versus league foes. Overall, FGCU boasts an 86-18 record (.827) at The Nest since the 2012-13 season.
 
WINNING STREAKS SNAPPED
With the loss to Kennesaw State on Feb. 15, FGCU had the following winning streaks come to an end:
 
OVERALL: 13 – FGCU's 13-game winning streak was the longest in D-I program history, besting a 10-game run in 2014-15. The all-time program record is 14 on two occasions in the D-II era (2003-04 and 2006-07). The 13-game winning streak was tied for the 4th-longest in the nation at the time.
 
ASUN OVERALL: 15 – FGCU's 15-game regular-season winning streak in ASUN play was tied for the 3rd-longest in the nation at the time.
 
KENNESAW STATE: 15 – FGCU had won 15 games in a row over Kennesaw State – then the longest winning streak by a current league member over another current league foe.
 
RECORD-SETTING ROUT TO OPEN ASUN PLAY
FGCU opened ASUN play with a 90-52 rout of Stetson at Alico Arena on Jan. 6. The 38-point win was the largest in program history over a conference member, surpassing the previous record of 33 in the 2016 ASUN Tournament semifinal at North Florida, 89-56.
 
PROGRAM'S LARGEST WINS vs. ASUN OPPONENT
1) +38: 90-52 vs. Stetson (1/6/18)
T-2) +33: 103-70 vs. North Florida (1/29/18)
        +33: 89-56 @ North Florida (ASUN Semifinals; 3/3/16)
4) +32: 70-38 vs. USC Upstate (2/6/11)
5) +31: 96-65 vs. Stetson (1/25/13)
6) +30: 87-57 vs. Stetson (ASUN Quarterfinals; 2/27/17)
 
PROGRAM'S MOST POINTS vs. ASUN OPPONENT
1) 111 @ Stetson (1/25/11) *3OT
2) 103 vs. North Florida (1/29/18)
3) 100 vs. Jacksonville (2/6/14)
4) 97 @ USC Upstate (2/18/17) *OT
T-5) 96 @ North Florida (1/24/18)
        96 vs. Stetson (1/25/13)
T-7) 92 @ Northern Kentucky (3/1/14)
        92 vs. Kennesaw State (1/28/12)
        92 @ Stetson (1/20/12)
T-10) 90 vs. Stetson (1/6/18)
        90 vs. ETSU (1/18/14)
 
ASUN RE-TWEETS
1) FGCU shot a season-high 60 percent (30-50) from the field against Stetson. The percentage was the 6th-highest in program history versus a D-I opponent (record: 65.6 vs. Jacksonville on Feb. 6, 2014).
2) The 90 points against the Hatters were the most ever in an ASUN opener for the Eagles, besting the previous mark of 89 set at Stetson in the 2017 conference opener.
3) It marked the fourth-straight year that FGCU beat Stetson to open ASUN play. The Eagles won their seventh in a row to begin league action, and are now 9-2 all-time in ASUN openers.
4) FGCU secured its 300th all-time win (now 305-204) since the program's first season in 2002-03 with the 96-87 victory at North Florida on Jan. 24.
5) The Eagles made a season-low one 3-pointer in the victory over Jacksonville on Jan. 27. Each of the last three times FGCU has made one 3-pointer in a contest, the Eagles have won the game.
6) FGCU secured its 100th all-time ASUN win (now 102-82) on Feb. 3 at Jacksonville, 80-55. After going just 33-61 in ASUN play from 2008-12, the Eagles are now 69-21 since 2013.
7) FGCU scored 59 2nd-half points – its second-most ever against a Division-I team – to overcome an 18-point deficit and win at USC Upstate last Saturday, 88-71.
8) The 49 points that FGCU held Kennesaw State to on Jan. 20 were its fewest allowed to a D-I opponent this year. The Eagles' 66 points against the Owls were their fewest in a win over a D-I opponent this season.
 
 
SLOW STARTS, POSTSEASON FINISHES
The Eagles have made six-consecutive postseason appearances (including this year's NCAA or NIT trip), but they have gotten off to slow starts previously – not unlike this year's 9-8 non-conference mark. In 2015-16, FGCU was 7-7 through 14 games (what it was this year), but went on to post a 21-14 record and win an NCAA Tournament game. In 2013-14, the Eagles went 6-7 in the non-conference schedule before finishing 22-13 overall, winning the ASUN regular season crown and playing in the NIT.
 
STILL SORTING IT OUT
Twenty-nine games into the year, FGCU has already used 16 different starting lineups – tied for the 3rd-most in the nation:
 
T-1) Bryant: 17 In 27 Games
          Siena: 17 In 27 Games
T-3) FGCU: 16 In 29 Games
        UT Martin: 16 In 28 Games
        UTEP: 16 In 25 Games


NATIONAL RANKINGS
FGCU boasts the following top-25 national rankings both as a team and individually:
 
Team:
4th – Total Rebounds (1,129)
16th – Field-Goal Percentage (.497)
24th – Total Assists (443)
 
Individual:
11th – Zach Johnson, Total Steals (61)
 
REBOUNDING EMPHASIS
In its nine losses, FGCU is averaging 33.6 rebounds per game, has a -4.1 rebounding margin and is -37 in second-chance points.
 
In its 20 wins, FGCU is averaging 41.3 rebounds per game, has a +11.4 rebounding margin and is +35 in second-chance points.
 
PAINT EMPHASIS
The Eagles led the nation in points in the paint last year, and they have picked up this season right where they left off 2016-17. FGCU has either tied or out-scored 26 of its first 29 opponents in the paint:
 
Illinois State: 48-34 (+14)
@ Siena: 50-16 (+34)
@ Bowling Green: 44-32 (+12)
@ Middle Tennessee: 34-32 (+2)
Denver: 35-32 (+3)
Navy: 36-32 (+4)
St. Francis Brooklyn: 48-24 (+24)
Webber International: 70-28 (+42)
Middle Tennessee: 30-46 (-16)
FAU: 42-34 (+8)
@ rv UT Arlington: 26-26 (0)
Oral Roberts: 22-58 (-36)
@ FIU: 34-26 (+8)
@ #11 Wichita State: 28-16 (+12)
@ rv Rhode Island: 36-28 (+8)
Florida Memorial: 42-12 (+30)
Florida Tech: 38-20 (+18)
Stetson: 28-20 (+8)
USC Upstate: 40-22 (+18)
NJIT: 38-26 (+12)
@ Lipscomb: 34-32 (+2)
@ Kennesaw State: 40-20 (+20)
@ North Florida: 56-26 (+30)
Jacksonville: 48-44 (+4)
North Florida: 66-30 (+36)
@ Jacksonville: 46-22 (+24)
@ NJIT: 26-28 (-2)
@ USC Upstate: 56-20 (+36)
Kennesaw State: 56-34 (+22)
Total: +377 / +13 Margin Per Game
 
MILESTONE MARKS
The win over Florida Tech on Dec. 31 was highlighted by a pair of milestone accomplishments for Zach Johnson and Joe Dooley. Johnson (Miami, Fla./Norland HS) became just the ninth member of the program's 1,000-point club, while Dooley reached 100 career wins with the Eagles.
 
In addition to becoming just the ninth player in program history to reach 1,000 career points and second this season (Christian Terrell), Johnson is only the third to do so as a junior, joining all-time leading scorer Bernard Thompson (1,835) and 2nd all-time leading scorer Brett Comer (1,477).
 
Dooley became the first coach in the D-I history of the program (since 2007-08) to reach the century mark for wins. Now in his 5th season with the Eagles, Dooley is 111-55 (.671 winning percentage). He has the 2nd-most wins all-time, behind only Dave Balza's 153-121 mark in the program's first nine years from 2002-11.
 
GREAT ROAD WIN
FGCU's lone win during a 1-6 stretch earlier this season against D-I opponents was one of its most impressive road victories in program history as FGCU knocked off UT Arlington, 85-78, on Dec. 9. UTA entered the game ranked No. 42 in the RPI and receiving votes in both the Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. The Eagles snapped the Mavericks' 21-game home-court regular-season winning streak.
 
NOTEWORTHY
^ The Eagles scored 70+ points in each of their first 11 games, coming one performance short of matching the 2003-04 team for most consecutive games to start a season (12) with scoring 70 or more points.
^ The 83-64 loss at home to Oral Roberts on Dec. 16 was tied for the worst home non-conference loss in the program's D-I history (77-58 vs. Drexel on Nov. 14, 2007).
^ Entering this season, FGCU was 68-4 when leading at the half under Dooley. The Eagles are now 86-7 when leading at the break as they have lost halftime leads this season at Bowling Green (43-40), versus FAU (45-34) and at FIU (43-40).
^ FGCU allowed FAU to score 58 points in the 2nd half on Dec. 5 – the most the Eagles have allowed in their D-I history behind only a 59-point performance by Mercer on Jan. 17, 2008.
^ The 92 points FGCU allowed to FAU were tied for the most in a regulation game under Dooley (92 at Lipscomb on Feb. 27, 2014), and the most surrendered by the Eagles in any regulation game since Belmont scored 95 on Jan. 16, 2012.
^ FGCU has already allowed three opponents to score 90+ in regulation this year. In the previous four years under Dooley, that had only occurred two times total.
^ FGCU's 98 points against Illinois State were the most in a season opener in program history. The previous high was 90 in the program's first-ever game in 2002-03 versus Puerto Rico-Bayamon.
^ Terrell (Jacksonville, Fla./Providence HS) is just the 6th player in program history with 1,000 career points and 400 career rebounds.
^ The Eagles shot 50.7 percent from the floor against FAU – their 2nd-highest shooting percentage in a loss in D-I non-conference history (61.4 percent at TCU on Nov. 11, 2011).
^ FGCU has made at least one 3-pointer in 278 straight games – dating back to Jan. 8. 2010, at home against North Florida. Incredibly, the Eagles also failed to make a 3-pointer in their next game two days later at The Nest versus Jacksonville. Those are the only two games in program history that FGCU has not made a 3-pointer.
^ As part of its victory over UT Arlington, FGCU set then-season highs against a D-I opponent in 3-pointers made (10), 3-point percentage (.526), points off turnovers (24), free-throw percentage when making double figures (.826), field-goal percentage (.549) and bench points (27).
^ FGCU committed 24 turnovers against UT Arlington – tied for the most in a win in D-I program history (Campbell, Dec. 18, 2008).
^ FGCU had a 43-28 rebounding edge at FIU – representing the first time in D-I program history (since 2007-08) it has lost when having a +15 advantage on the glass.
 
ADDED THREAT
With the conclusion of the fall semester, Dec. 16 against Oral Roberts marked the Green and Blue debut of redshirt junior Michael Gilmore. In his first game eligible, Gilmore (Jacksonville, Fla./Miami/VCU/Rickards HS) started, scored 10 points, grabbed four rebounds and passed out two assists.
 
The uber-talented 6-10, 210-pound forward from Jacksonville transferred to FGCU in January of 2017. Gilmore began his career at VCU, playing his freshman and sophomore years with the Rams, before transferring to Miami (but not playing) in the summer of 2016 and then joining the Eagles. He had not played since Mar. 20, 2016, in the NCAA Tournament Second Round. In that game with VCU, Gilmore scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds against 2nd-seeded Oklahoma.
 
1K FOR CT
With a 3-pointer on Nov. 29, Terrell registered his 1,001st career point, becoming – at the time – just the eighth member of the program's 1,000-point club (players who have totaled at least 1,000 points exclusively with FGCU). Additionally, the senior became only the sixth person – at the time – to reach the milestone mark in the D-I era.
 
ODDS & ENDS
FGCU scored 80 or more points in each of the first three games of the season for the first time in the D-I era of the program … freshman Brian Thomas (Kennesaw, Ga./Kell HS) missed 14-straight games from Nov. 21-Dec. 31 with a fractured left (non-shooting) hand, but returned for the ASUN opener on Jan. 6 against Stetson and grabbed a game-high eight rebounds; in his first two games back, he secured 14 rebounds, and at Kennesaw State on Jan. 20 he scored a career-high nine points and grabbed a career-high-tying eight rebounds … Dinero Mercurius (Orlando, Fla./Daytona State/UTRGV/USF/Faith Baptist Christian HS) injured his shoulder seconds after checking into the game against Denver on Nov. 24 and missed three complete games before returning on Dec. 2 against Middle Tennessee and making a season-high four 3-pointers … under Dooley, the Eagles are 49-9 when scoring at least 80 points … the win over Siena on Nov. 13 marked Dooley's 150th career victory … the 33-point road win (86-53) was tied for the largest victory away from home in FGCU's D-I history, and was tied for Siena's largest home defeat in its D-I history (since 1976-77).
 
SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
FGCU played six non-conference games against teams that finished in the top 40 of the RPI last year. Each of those teams won at least 25 games and played in the postseason, and the Eagles went 2-4 against the group:
 
Nov. 11: vs. 39 Illinois State (28-7, NIT) | W, 98-87
Nov. 21: @ 34 Middle Tennessee (31-5, NCAA) | L, 85-72
Dec. 2: vs. 34 Middle Tennessee | L, 81-76
Dec. 9: @ 40 UT Arlington (27-9, NIT) | W, 85-78
Dec. 22: @ 29 Wichita State (31-5, NCAA) | L, 75-65
Dec. 27: @ 31 Rhode Island (25-10, NCAA) | L, 80-60
 
Each of those NCAA Tournament opponents won a March Madness game last year, and the other two claimed three total victories in the NIT. Those opponents went a combined 142-36 (.798 winning percentage) last season and posted an average RPI of 34.
 
RECORD-SETTING NIGHT
As part of its 115-61 win over Webber International on Nov. 29, FGCU ranked in the top 5 in single-game program records in several categories:
 
8-8: Goodwin tied a record by making at least eight free throws (8-8) without a miss.
29: Assists to rank tied for 4th all-time and tied for 3rd in the D-I era.
45: Made field goals – the 3rd-most in program history and 2nd-most in the D-I era.
57: Total rebounds – the 5th-most all-time and 2nd-most in the D-I era.
63: The most 1st-half points in the D-I era (previous: 57 vs. Webber International on Jan. 5, 2016).
70: Points in the paint to represent the most in the D-I era (unavailable for prior years).
115: The 4th-most points (record: 123) all-time, and the 2nd-most in the D-I era (120).
 
MILESTONE TRACKER
FGCU is well within reach of several milestone victory marks this season.
 
All-Time Record: 305-204 (Win 300 On Jan. 24)
All-Time Record In D-I Era: 191-165 (9 More Wins For 200)
All-Time Record At Home: 203-64 (Win 200 On Jan. 11)
All-Time Record vs. ASUN Opponents: 102-82 (Win 100 On Feb. 3)
 
UNCHARATERISTIC DROPOFF
Entering this season – in four years under Dooley – FGCU had surrendered a double-figure lead and lost a game just four times. Already this year, the Eagles have lost four double-figure leads (and dropped the game): 13 at Bowling Green, 12 vs. Middle Tennessee, 14 vs. FAU and 11 at FIU.
 
The four double-figure leads are the most in a single season since the 2012-13 team – which reached the Sweet Sixteen – surrendered five such advantages, including an 11-point edge in the aforementioned Sweet Sixteen against Florida.
 
FGCU lost consecutive double-figure point leads against Middle Tennessee and FAU. It's just the third time in program history (2002-03, 2012-13) that the Eagles have given up back-to-back double-figure point leads.
 
62 INCHES
At just 5-foot-2-inches, freshman Darnell Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Believe Prep/ Shiloh HS/Indian Land HS) is by far the smallest D-I player in the nation. The next smallest player is Mount St. Mary's Junior Robinson at 5-5.
 
Rogers is believed to be the smallest scholarship D-I men's basketball player in history. While not confirmed due to many teams not being able to verify early-year rosters, only one player has been confirmed as smaller than 5-2, and that was Dayton's Keith Braswell at exactly 5 foot. However, Braswell was a walk-on during his one season with the Flyers in 1994-95.
 
More recently, Malcolm Reid – a 5-2 walk-on at Southeastern Louisiana in 2015-16 – matched Rogers' height, but he once again was also a walk-on. Darnell's father, Shawnta, stood at 5-4 and put together a heralded career at George Washington, ultimately culminating in him winning Atlantic 10 Conference Player of the Year in 1999.
 
ROAD WARRIORS
FGCU had won a program-best 10-straight road games dating back to last year – the 2nd-longest road winning streak in the country – before a last-second loss at Bowling Green on Nov. 18. FGCU has now won six-straight road games – tied for the 5th-longest streak in the nation.
 
The Eagles finished a program-best 7-0 on the road in the ASUN last year, surpassing the previous single-season record for wins of five. FGCU was the first ASUN institution to go undefeated on the road in conference action since former league member Samford went 8-0 in 1998-99.
 
FGCU has won a program-best 13-straight ASUN road games (6-0 this year). The previous longest road conference winning streak in program history was just five in 2014-15.
 
HEAD COACH JOE DOOLEY
Dooley has guided the Eagles to at least 20 wins and postseason appearances in each of his first four full campaigns with the team. Last season, he became the first coach in program history to be named ASUN Coach of the Year, and was also tabbed as the NABC District 3 Coach of the Year. Under his guidance, FGCU was statistically the 4th-best team in the country in scoring on possessions immediately following timeouts last season, averaging 1.059 points per possession.
 
FAMOUS LINEAGE
FGCU has a pair of players related to Naismith Basketball Hall of Famers in Gilmore and walk-on Ryan McAdoo (Boca Raton, Fla./St. Andrews HS). Gilmore is the nephew of Artis Gilmore, a six-time NBA All-Star, while McAdoo is the son of Bob McAdoo, a five-time NBA All-Star and NBA MVP in 1975.
 
MEN'S & WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SUCCESS
FGCU was one of only seven schools in the country entering this season which have had its men's and women's teams win at least 20 games in five-straight years, joining: Duke, Louisville, Kentucky, Baylor, BYU and Saint Mary's.
 
Among those teams looking to make it six-straight seasons, here are the 2017-18 men's and women's basketball records for each school (entering games on Feb. 16):
 
FGCU: 20-9 (m); 24-4 (w)
Duke: 21-5 (m); 20-7 (w)
Louisville: 18-8 (m); 26-2 (w)
Kentucky: 17-9 (m); 13-14 (w)
Baylor: 16-10 (m); 24-1 (w)
Saint Mary's: 24-4 (m); 17-9 (w)
BYU: 21-7 (m); 15-11 (w)
 
Additionally, with both the men's and women's teams winning at least 26 games last season, FGCU was one of only three non-Power 5 schools in the nation to boast that claim along with Gonzaga and Bucknell. In total, only nine schools had both its men's and women's basketball teams record at least 26 victories a year ago: Duke, Notre Dame, Michigan, South Carolina, Baylor and Florida State.
 
BUILDING A TRADITION
FGCU is believed to be the only men's D-I program in NCAA history to make six postseason appearances in its first seven years of eligibility (2013: NCAA; 2014: NIT; 2015: CIT; 2016: NCAA; 2017: NCAA; 2018: NCAA or NIT).
 
The Eagles – entering this season – were also one of just 23 teams in the nation to have won at least 20 games and made postseason appearances in each of the past five seasons. Of those 23 teams, only six are mid-major schools, as FGCU joins Vermont, Belmont, New Mexico State, Iona and UC Irvine to hold that distinction.
 
MOST WINS IN FLORIDA
Since the start of the 2013-14 season, FGCU has the 2nd-most wins among D-I schools in the state of Florida (entering games on Feb. 16)
 
1) Florida: 116
2) FGCU: 111
3) Miami: 108
4) Florida State: 103
5) North Florida: 89
6) UCF: 77
7) Jacksonville: 67
8) FIU: 62
9) Bethune-Cookman: 57
10) Stetson: 52
11) FAU: 47
12) USF: 45
13) Florida A&M: 35
 
FGCU is the only D-I team in the state of Florida which has posted five-straight 20-win seasons (six-consecutive for the Eagles). As FGCU has moved among some of the preeminent teams in the state, it has done so with Florida talent. Last year, Florida natives were responsible for 80 percent of FGCU's points and 75 percent of the Green and Blue's rebounds and assists.
 
This season, eight of FGCU's 13 scholarship players hail from the Sunshine State, and including walk-ons there are 11 total players from Florida on the 2017-18 roster.
 
RECAPPING 2016-17
^ FGCU claimed its first outright ASUN regular-season title (12-2) and second overall. The Eagles set a program D-I regular-season record with 23 wins and tied the all-time victory mark of 26, finishing one triumph shy of matching the program's all-time mark.
^ Additionally, the Green and Blue recorded the first single-digit loss season in the D-I era.  FGCU set D-I program single-season records in points per game (79.4), rebound margin (+5.4) and field goal percentage (.499) – 5th-best in the nation.
^ The Eagles made their third NCAA Tournament appearance in five years (six seasons of eligibility) and earned a program-best No. 14 seed. Despite losing its leading rebounder and shot blocker in Demetris Morant early in the 2nd half with an ankle injury, FGCU went on to fall to 3rd-seeded Florida State – the second-tallest team in the nation – by just six points, 86-80.
 
LOW-POST FORCE
FGCU led the country in points in the paint per game last year at 41.3. Included in that average were a pair of then-D-I program record performances of 68 points in the paint versus Ave Maria and Florida National.
 
2016-17 Points In The Paint Leaders
1) FGCU: 41.3
2) Utah: 41.1
3) North Carolina: 39.9
4) VCU: 38.2
5) Kentucky: 37.3
 
#DUNKCITY
Helping fuel that low-post production was FGCU finishing 3rd in the nation with 159 dunks – 11 more than the original Dunk City Sweet Sixteen team in 2012-13.
 
2016-17 Team Dunk Leaders
1) Florida State: 183
2) Kentucky: 179
3) FGCU: 159
4) USC: 154
 
2016-17 Individual Dunk Leaders
1) Tacko Fall (UCF): 106
2) Bam Adebayo (Kentucky): 101
3) Demetris Morant (FGCU): 97
 
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 6th place in the ASUN the first five years, FGCU has finished no worse than a tie for 2nd 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: 20-9, 11-1 ASUN (1st)
D-I Total: 191-165, 102-82 ASUN
Last 5 Years: 137-66, 69-21 ASUN
 
GOODWIN'S RECORD-SETTING 2016-17
Goodwin was the unanimous ASUN Newcomer of the Year, in addition to being named ASUN First Team, ASUN Tournament MVP and setting a league record by securing six ASUN Newcomer of the Week honors. He was also named to the NABC All-District First Team after setting a program record by scoring 629 points. He hit three game-winning shots and led FGCU in scoring (18.5) and assists (4.1).
 
NEXT UP
FGCU concludes the regular season at Stetson next Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7 p.m.
 
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.
 
COACH DOOLEY
FGCU is led by head coach Joe Dooley, who is in his 5th season with the Eagles in 2017-18 and has coached eight all-conference selections in that time. He has led FGCU to 20+ win seasons and postseason appearances in all five years: 2014 NIT; 2015 CIT; 2016 NCAA; 2017 NCAA; 2018 NCAA/NIT. Dooley was named the 2017 ASUN Coach of the Year and the 2017 NABC District 3 Coach of the Year after leading the Eagles to a D-I program record 26 wins. In 8+ seasons overall as a head coach, Dooley has a record of 168-107 (.611), and in his 4+ years with FGCU is 112-55 (.671). Prior to arriving in SWFL, Dooley spent 10 seasons as an assistant at Kansas under head coach Bill Self. During those 10 seasons, Kansas produced 300 wins, nine-straight Big 12 regular-season titles, six Big 12 Tournament championships, six NCAA Sweet 16s, five NCAA Elite Eight appearances and two Final Fours, including the 2008 National Championship.
 
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.