FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team (7-13, 2-3 ASUN) won its second-straight ASUN Conference contest 87-65 over Stetson (4-16, 0-5 ASUN) Monday night inside Alico Arena.
 
The Green and Blue took part in their Pinkout promotion, and the coaches all wore sneakers to help raise cancer awareness as part of the Coaches vs. Cancer program.
 
Playing in front of 3,321 fans on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, five Eagles scored in double figures for just the second time this season (FIU). Senior Schadrac Casimir led the way with a 21-point effort on the same day he was honored as the ASUN Player and Newcomer of the Week. Junior Christian Carlyle dropped 13, both sophomore Brian Thomas and true freshman Caleb Catto had a career-high 12 points, while classmate Zach Scott added 11.
 
"I was proud of our effort tonight. That's something we've talked about a lot the last couple of weeks," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "We also talk about getting better daily, and I think we're starting to see that. We won a game on the road two nights ago, and we come home and continued to play well. We're not worried about what happened in the past or any games down the road, we're just trying to get better each day and take it one game at a time."
 
FGCU shot 34-for-68 (50 percent) from the field, and the 34 made field goals were a new season high. The home team also shot 35.7 percent (10-for-28) from 3-point land and 75 percent (9-for-12) at the free-throw line. Stetson shot 37.1 percent (23-for-62) overall, 30.8 percent (8-for-26) from deep and 78.6 percent (11-for-14) from the charity stripe.
 
Keith Matthews, Jalen Crutchfield and Ricardo Lynch all led the Hatters with 11 points each off the bench. Abayomi Iyiola was the only starter in double figures, finishing with 10 points.
 
FGCU came out blistering in the opening half, as the Green and Blue carried a 55-30 advantage into the locker room. The Eagles went 21-for-35 (60 percent) in the opening stanza, which was just two shy of the school's D-I record for most field goals made in a first half.
 
Casimir had another great start after scoring 15 points in the opening five minutes against Kennesaw State two nights ago. He didn't quite reach that mark this time around, but he was able to account for nine points before the first media timeout. FGCU led 15-4 before the fans were able to settle into the game, and the home side extended its lead back out to 27-17 after Stetson closed the gap to within 17-13. The Hatters remained within striking distance at 39-30, but FGCU cranked out 16 unanswered points to close out the frame to take a commanding 25-point lead.
 
The Eagles blew the game wide open by scoring 19 of the first 21 points in the second half to go on top by 42. They coasted the rest of the way as the Hatters were unable to get any closer than the final 22-point margin.
 
FGCU led the night in assists (22-14), fewer turnovers (7-18), blocks (4-1), steals (11-4), points in the paint (42-24), and points off turnovers (25-10). The assist total was a season high, and the number of turnovers from the Eagles was the fewest in a game this year.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU will carry its two-game win streak into a road showdown with league favorite Lipscomb. The Bisons (14-4, 5-0 ASUN) are one of two remaining undefeated teams in league play, and the Eagles will try to knock them off at 7:30 p.m. EST Jan. 24 in Nashville, Tennessee.
 
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.
 
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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