FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team opened up ASUN Conference action with an 81-63 setback to Liberty Saturday night inside Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles (5-11, 0-1 ASUN) dropped their third contest in a row, while the Flames (12-4, 1-0 ASUN) continued their hottest start to a season in school history.
 
"(Liberty) played really well tonight. They outcompeted us for a stretch (in the second half). We were right there in the game, but they made three 3-pointers in a row for a quick nine-point swing," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "They're a really good team. I'm hoping they won't be better than us by the end of conference play, but tonight they were better than us. We can't hang our heads though. We just need to get ready for our next game."
 
Senior Dinero Mercurius reached the 1,000-point plateau in the contest after scoring five for the Eagles. He now has 1,004 points in his collegiate career between stops at USF, Daytona State and FGCU. Classmate Schadrac Casimir paced the Green and Blue with 16 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He went 5-for-7 from the free-throw line and snapped a string of 21-made free throws that dated back to Dec. 5.
 
Junior RaySean Scott Jr. tallied 13 points, while true freshman Zach Scott chipped in 12.
 
FGCU shot 50 percent (23-for-46) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-for-13) from behind the 3-point arc and 70.6 percent (12-for-17) at the free-throw line. LU shot 57.4 percent (31-for-54) overall, 50 percent (14-for-28) from distance and 71.5 percent (5-for-7) at the charity stripe.
 
Darius McGhee came off the bench for Liberty and led all scorers with 18 points. Scottie James (12), Caleb Homesley (12), Lovell Cabbil (10) and Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz (10) all scored in double figures.
 
The Flames scored the game's first seven points and never trailed. They initially led 14-2, but a 9-0 run from the home side helped FGCU get within two at 16-14. LU stretched its lead out to nine at 25-16 and eventually gained a 10-point advantage at 31-21 with three minutes remaining in the first stanza. The Eagles powered back into the game, however, and got within three before entering the locker room trailing just 36-30.
 
The early stages of the second period belonged to FGCU, with the Green and Blue getting within two points on multiple occasions. The key moments of the contest occurred right after the Eagles had pulled within 54-50 with 13 minutes left on the clock. Liberty hit three 3-pointers over the course of the next three possessions and extended their lead out to 13. FGCU continued to fight until the end, but the home side was unable to cut the deficit back down into single digits.
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles are set to begin a three-game road swing with a trip to North Alabama. FGCU and the ASUN newcomers will meet at 9 p.m. EST in Florence, Alabama.
 
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.
Military Appreciation Games
Military Appreciation Night is Saturday, January 5. Discounted tickets are available for current or former Military and their families. Women's tickets start at $8 each and Men's tickets start at $9 each and the first 50 military discount orders include a free $10 gift card for Mission BBQ. 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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