ST. LOUIS, Mo. - A 19-to-0 first half run for Saint Louis, the defending Atlantic 10 champions, proved the difference maker on Tuesday night as the Billikens down the FGCU men's basketball team 89-67 at Chaifetz Arena in the season-opener for both squads. The Eagles played an even second half, 49-49, on the road thanks in part to 19 points from Zach Scott as part of his game-high 23 for the evening.

FGCU will return to Alico Arena on Saturday, Nov. 9 to open the home schedule as fellow NCAA Cinderella UMBC visits Fort Myers for the second consecutive meeting between two clubs that have made national headlines. The tip is set for 3 PM and the game will be available on ESPN+. Limited tickets are still available by calling 239-590-7145, stopping by Alico Arena, or visiting www.FGCUAthletics.com/Tickets.

"I thought we did some really positive things in the second half; we played more relaxed and had better ball movement," said head coach Michael Fly. "We weren't able to string together enough stops, but I thought there were some good things to build upon from an offensive and attacking standpoint going into UMBC. I was disappointed in the first half with our toughness - that was one of our biggest talking points going into the game was controlling rebounding and getting loose balls. Saint Louis was the more aggressive team in the first half."

Scott's 23 points were just two shy of his career-best single-game total as the sophomore hit 8-of-17 from the floor including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc. He was particularly effective in the second half going 5-of-7 from deep and 7-of-11 overall from the floor.

Joining Scott in leading the Eagles was fellow sophomore Caleb Catto who had a career-best 16 points to go with four assists. Catto had 11 points in the second half as FGCU (0-1) kept pace with Saint Louis, 49-49. In his FGCU debut, Jalen Harper notched nine points going 3-of-4 from behind the three-point line.

"Realistically, Zach and Caleb did some good things for us tonight and as sophomores are still growing and maturing as leaders," said Fly. "Overall I think our team is in that space as well and with as many new guys that we have, they are still trying to get comfortable with each other. The good thing is that this is early November and I think our best basketball is in front of us."

Saint Louis (1-0) was led by Hasahn French's 20 points, while Jordan Goodwin added 18 points and nine rebounds. Fred Thatch, Jr. scored 11 points to round out the top scorers. The Eagles limited French in the first half to just four points.

The Billikens held a 41-to-28 advantage in rebounding which led to a 10-point edge in second chance points. They also converted 18 FGCU miscues into 17 points. Overall, the Eagles shot 46 percent from the floor for the game, but saw that rise to 61 percent in the second half which included a 10-of-17 effort from deep.

For complete coverage of the FGCU men's basketball program, follow the Eagles on Twitter and Instagram @FGCU_MBB, on Facebook at @FGCUMBB, and online at www.FGCUAthletics.com.
 
BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale now including season tickets, 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. Seating locations for new ticket packages will depend on availability. Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.
 
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 155-87 record (.641 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 79 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--