BROOKINGS, S.D. – A slow start coming off a 10-day break was the difference maker on Wednesday night as the FGCU men's basketball team fell at South Dakota State, 75-56, at Frost Arena.
 
Sophomore Caleb Catto (Cape Coral, Fla.) led FGCU (2-11) with 13 points on the strength of three triples, while junior Justus Rainwater (Enunclaw, Wash.) was an efficient 6-of-8 from the floor to post 12 points. Rainwater did much of his scoring late after suffering early foul trouble and also finished with a team-high seven rebounds. Freshman Cyrus Largie (Miramar, Fla.) scored a career-high nine points while adding two steals and two rebounds.
 
The Jacks (8-6) were led by a 20-point effort from Douglas Wilson who was 8-of-9 from the floor. Matt Dentlinger added 15 points, while David Wingett scored 12 points to round out the top scorers. The win was the seventh straight at home this season for South Dakota State and its 15th consecutive overall.
 
"I thought we struggled to get into an offensive rhythm early tonight and that's tough when you're on the road against a team who is very successful in their own home," said head coach Michael Fly. "It was a positive that, as they have through the year, the guys kept at it, made some runs late in the first and early in the second. It just wasn't enough after the start we had tonight. Certainly we had some foul trouble early which affected some of what we wanted to do, but give credit to South Dakota State for hitting shots and playing a very solid game overall."
 
After senior Tracy Hector (Riverdale, Ga.) opened the game with a three-pointer, the Jackrabbits scored 22-straight points over the next eight minutes with the Eagles going 0-for-7 from the field. South Dakota State managed to extend the lead to as much as 25 with three minutes remaining, but FGCU closed the half with a 9-to-0 run trailing 42-26 at the break.
 
The second half opened with a three from sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.) as the Eagles cut the lead down to as few as 12 on a Catto jumper at the 16:52 mark. A quick seven point streak for the Jackrabbits after that pushed the deficit back to 19 with just under 15 minutes remaining. The Eagles were only able to cut the lead down to 16 from there, but did get a lift down the stretch as Rainwater scored 10 of his 12 points in the final 10 minutes of play.

Overall, FGCU shot 22-of-56 from the field while the Jacks were 27-of-55 on the night. South Dakota State converted 13 FGCU turnovers into 24 points while the Eagles scored just seven points on 15 Jacks miscues.
 
FGCU will return to action on Saturday, Dec. 21 when St. Thomas University visits Alico Arena. Tip-off is set for 7 PM and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. The promotion of the game will be an Ugly Sweater Party and the program will still be collecting toys to donate to Golisano Children's Hospital and Toys for Tots.
 
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 157-98 record (.618 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--