FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team (8-14, 3-4 ASUN) earned a season split by knocking off North Florida (9-14, 3-5 ASUN) 88-80 in ASUN Conference action Sunday evening in Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles have turned a corner as of late, winning three of their last four games over the last nine days. The Ospreys are now on a four-game losing skid.
 
"I'm really proud of our team. I thought we played hard and competed all game. The players have been really good about listening to what we have been saying from a scouting standpoint in these last four games," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "(North Florida is) a really good team. They've got guys like (Noah) Horchler and (Wajid) Aminu who combine for 47 points. Some of those guys have been playing together for three years now. That's big for us to be able to get a win against a veteran team that got us at their place."
 
The victory for the Green and Blue avenges a loss from Jan. 12 in Jacksonville where the Ospreys defeated FGCU 87-66.
 
Senior Schadrac Casimir poured in 33 points, shooting 9 of 14 overall, 6 of 10 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 at the free-throw line. True freshman Zach Scott contributed 14 points, and sophomore Troy Baxter Jr. added 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a block. Classmate Brian Thomas registered 10 points and seven rebounds, and junior Christian Carlyle pumped up the stat sheet with nine points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals.
 
Wajid Aminu scored 25 points for the visitors, and Noah Horchler added 22. Ivan Gandia-Rosa recordred 10 points and nine assists.
 
The Eagles shot 50 percent (32-for-64) from the field, 42.1 percent (8-for-19) from 3-point range and a season-best 88.9 percent (16-for-18) at the free-throw line. UNF shot 44.1 percent (30-for-68) overall, 39.4 percent (13-for-33) from deep and 70 percent (7-for-10) at the charity stripe.
 
The contest featured a whopping 15 lead changes, 11 of which came in the opening half. FGCU took an early 12-4 lead and later held a 16-9 advantage, but the visitors used an 8-0 run to swing momentum back into their favor. Neither team could separate any more than four points until the Eagles found themselves on top 45-37 with 2:43 left in the first. North Florida cut the gap to one, however, by ending the opening frame on a 7-0 run.
 
The second half mirrored the first, with FGCU coming out on fire but UNF countering every step of the way. The two teams remained tight until a 3-point basket from true freshman Caleb Catto at the 2:24 mark gave the Eagles a 78-73 lead. A massive dunk from Thomas on the next possession put an exclamation point on the victory, and the home team cruised the rest of the way.
 
FGCU led in rebounding (36-30), points off turnovers (18-16) and fast-break points (4-0).
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles set sail on the road for a Wednesday contest against NJIT. The first meeting of the season between the two clubs will be at 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in Newark, New Jersey.
 
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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