LOS ANGELES – Despite hanging tough throughout the bulk of the game, the FGCU men's basketball team fell 71-58 at Southern California on Sunday night at the Galen Center. The Eagles trailed by just two possessions midway through the second half, but a 9-to-2 run late in the game allowed the Trojans to pull away for the win.
 
The game was the front-end of a home-and-home series as USC will visit Alico Arena next season. It marked the first meeting between the two teams and Trojan head coach Andy Enfield who guided FGCU to its magical 2013 Sweet Sixteen run.
 
"I thought we really competed and did a good job executing our game plan," said head coach Michael Fly. "I told the guys they were right there with a chance to win the game, but some of the unforced errors hurt us late. That's something we can control and fix as we get into league play. We are continuing to play hard but we just need to make some better decisions in spots."
 
The teams traded runs throughout the game, but the Eagles were unable to pull off the upset as USC pulled away late improving to 11-2 overall. The game marked the final non-conference match up for both squads as FGCU will open ASUN play next Thursday, Jan. 2 against Liberty at Alico Arena. The game is slated for national television on ESPNU with the opening tip set for 5 PM.
 
"We're 0-0 going into the Liberty game – as important as the non-conference schedule is, nothing is more important than your league games," said Fly. "Home court advantage in the ASUN tournament is decided by how you play in the regular-season and we'll all be 0-0 starting this week."
 
All 10 of the Eagles (3-12) who played tonight scored led by junior Sam Gagliardi (Gig Harbor, Wash.) who had 10 points thanks to three three-pointers. Sophomore Caleb Catto (Cape Coral, Fla.) had nine points and a career-high in both assists (7) and steals (5). Freshman Dakota Rivers (Windermere, Fla.) added eight points going 4-of-4 from the field, while junior Brian Thomas (Kennesaw, Ga.) tied his career-high with eight rebounds. Freshman Cyrus Largie (Miramar, Fla.) earned his first collegiate start and finished the night with six points, four rebounds, three steals and two assists in 18 minutes.
 
"It was good to have Sam back because he's a physical presence and can really shoot. He can space the floor which opens things up," said Fly. "Cyrus has earned the chance to play – he competes at a really high level, he executes in practice and he's one of our toughest guys who just has a knack for making plays when you need them."
 
The Trojans were led by Nick Rakocevic who had a double-double with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Daniel Utomi netted 13 points, while Jonah Mathews rounded out the top scorers with 10 points.
 
The Eagles trailed by just four, 35-31, at halftime thanks in part to 15 combined points from Catto and Largie. Catto had a game-high nine points at the break, while Largie had six points thanks to a pair of timely three pointers.
 
FGCU started the game on a 7-1 run keyed by triples from Gagliardi and Largie. The Trojans, however, responded with 11-straight points taking a 12-7 lead at the 13:20 mark after hitting two three pointers of their own.
 
The teams traded buckets until USC used an 8-to-2 run to build the lead to double-figures, 26-16, with 6:53 to go. The Eagles made it a three-point lead, 28-25, scoring seven straight capped by another Largie three pointer.
 
Jalen Warren hit back-to-back buckets in the final 1:11 of the first half to give the score at the intermission.
 
In the second half, the Eagles were hit by early foul trouble on the inside as junior Justus Rainwater (Enumclaw, Wash.) and Rivers each picked up their fourth fouls of the night prior to the under-16 media timeout. That allowed the Trojans to go on a 9-to-0 run extending their lead to 44-33.
 
Sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.) hit a triple as the shot clock nearly expired to cut the deficit back to single digits at the 14:01 mark. Scott hit another three-pointer two minutes later but Rakocevic responded with one of his own two possession later pushing the USC lead to 51-42. The Eagles continued to keep close over the next two minutes with a triple by Gagliardi pulling FGCU within six, 53-47, with 9:36 to go.
 
Gagliardi kept it to a two-possession game with his third three pointer of the game 90 seconds later, 56-50. To that point, the Eagles hit 5-of-9 three pointers to keep the game close.
 
However, after the under-eight media timeout, the Trojans were able to pull away outscoring FGCU 15-to-8 in the last 7:02 of play for the win.
 
Overall, FGCU was 24-of-59 from the field including 9-of-28 from deep. The Trojans hit 24-of-52 from the floor and were 7-of-23 beyond the arc. Free throws played a difference in the game with USC going 16-of-23, while the Eagles were just 1-of-6.
 
 
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 158-99 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--