FORT MYERS, Fla. – A nip-and-tuck battle for much of the night went the way of the visiting Camels as Campbell defeated the FGCU men's basketball team 51-46 on Saturday evening at Alico Arena. The game featured nine lead changes and six ties including 41-41 with 6:18 remaining in regulation.
 
The Eagles (2-7) will take on Georgia Southern on Sunday (5 PM) in the finale of the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Classic. The defending Big South regular-season champion Camels (5-2) will take on North Dakota at Noon.
 
Redshirt sophomore Malik Hardy (Miramar, Fla.) led all scorers with 13 points and had a game-high 12 rebounds – both career highs as well. Junior Jalen Warren (Milton, Ontario) added 10 points and five rebounds, while junior Justus Rainwater (Enumclaw, Wash.) had nine points and seven rebounds to lead the Eagles.
 
Campbell was led by Cedric Henderson (seven rebounds) and Trey Spencer (six rebounds) who each had 10 points.

"I thought we had effort tonight, I thought we competed tonight and I thought we gave ourselves a chance to win the game," said head coach Michael Fly. "Their press slowed us down and obviously we are at our best when we're running and playing fast. I thought multiple times tonight we slowed down and got bogged down because of that. We held them to 38 percent shooting; normally when you hold a team to that, out-rebound them and get to the free throw line more you win the game – we just had a tough night shooting and couldn't convert on some key plays."
 
The Eagles led 26-25 at the break thanks to a jumper by sophomore Calen Catto (Cape Coral, Fla.) and a triple by Hardy. In the final 2:16 of play.
 
In the second half, the Camels were able to go ahead early building out a five point lead for much of the first 10 minutes of the half. The Eagles were able to briefly retake the lead by a point, 39-38, with 8:12 to go after a Catto free throw.
 
After Campbell retook the lead on a pair of Henderson lay ups, a three-point play by Warren knotted the score at 41 each at the 6:18 mark.
 
Campbell then used a 8-to-0 run to take the largest lead of the game before five consecutive free throws by sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.) pulled the Eagles within three with seven seconds to go.
 
FGCU fouled on the ensuing possession with Austin McCullough hitting a pair of free throws putting Campbell back up 51-46. The Eagles were able to get a look at a three-pointer just after that, but it was off the mark allowing time to expire.
 
The Eagles were able to hold a 40-to-34 advantage on the glass, but struggled from the floor hitting just 12-of-55 field goals (22%). Defensively, FGCU was able to hold Campbell to 38 percent shooting (18-of-47). The tough shooting night for the Eagles negated a plus-10 advantage in free throws where they converted 19-of-22.
 
Tickets are on sale now, but limited, and can be purchased by visiting the Alico Arena Box Office, going online to www.FGCUAthletics.com or calling 239-590-7145.

For complete coverage of FGCU men's basketball, follow the Eagles on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @FGCU_MBB and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com.



BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now including single-game tickets and the popular mini-plan options. For more information, contact an FGCU Ticket Office representative by calling 239-590-7145, visiting Alico Arena Monday-Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. or by visiting www.FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets. 
 
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 his time with the Eagles, he helped FGCU to a 157-94 record (.629 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 16. He has coached 13 all-conference selections while with the Green and Blue, including two ASUN Player of the Year honors in Sherwood Brown and Brandon Goodwin, two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections in Bernard Thompson and Demetris Morant and one ASUN Newcomer of the Year in Schadrac Casimir. 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).
 
#FEEDFGCU
FGCU Athletics sponsors events in November and April 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 80 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 13 seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 36 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 soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as two of the most recent. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best sixth-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. In 2018-19, the Eagles had an ASUN and state of Florida best seven teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the spring 2018 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for twenty consecutive semesters.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours in 2017 – being recognized as one of two runners-up for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
--FGCUATHLETICS.COM--