FLORENCE, Ala. – The FGCU men's basketball team dropped a tight 61-56 contest at North Alabama Tuesday night in Flowers Hall.
 
The Eagles (5-12, 0-2 ASUN) slipped for the fourth game in a row, while the Lions (4-13, 1-1 ASUN) earned their first conference win as new members of the ASUN.
 
"I thought (North Alabama) played harder than us. They got to every loose ball, and they played with more intensity," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "We told the guys before the game that no game is easy, especially on the road. Nothing comes easy when you've built a program like we've built it. These players are still trying to learn that we are always going to have a target on our backs."
 
Junior Decardo Day led all scorers with a career-high 20 points. He went 5 of 10 from the field and converted a career-high eight free throws. Senior Schadrac Casimir went 7-for-8 from the line to add 13 points and a season-high six rebounds.
 
FGCU shot 35 percent (14-for-40) from the field, 31.3 percent (5-for-16) from behind the 3-point arc and 67.6 percent (23-for-34) at the free-throw line. UNA shot 43.1 percent (22-for-51) overall, 32 percent (8-for-25) from deep range and 75 percent (9-for-12) at the charity stripe.
 
Tavon King paced the home side with 15 points, Kendarius Smith added 13 before fouling out and Cantavio Dutreil registered a double-double of 11 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The opening half was tight throughout. The Eagles scored the first six points, but UNA responded with a 6-0 run of its own. Neither team led by more than six at any moment in the first 20 minutes, and it was the visitors that battled into a 25-22 halftime advantage.
 
The low-scoring first half made way to a second half that saw 23 more combined points. FGCU initially found a 29-24 lead, but a 10-2 run from the Lions tilted momentum into their favor at 34-31 six minutes into the stanza. They extended their lead to 41-34 midway through the second half and kept that favorable advantage for the next six minutes at 51-44.
 
The next two minutes belonged to the Eagles. The visiting squad roared back with a 10-2 run of its own to regain the long-lost lead at 54-53 with 1:58 to play. The lead would only last for moments, however, as a 3-point bucket and a pair of free throws put UNA back on top 58-54 with 1:27 left. FGCU missed a pair of crucial shots down the stretch and was unable to get that one final stop as UNA held on for the home triumph.
 
The Eagles outrebounded North Alabama (32-31) and finished with more steals (7-6).
 
UP NEXT
The Eagles continue their three-game road swing with a trip to North Florida. FGCU will meet the Ospreys at 5 p.m. Jan. 12 in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
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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