MIAMI, Fla. - Despite having its best game of the season in terms of rebounding, the FGCU men's basketball team was forced into too many turnovers on Wednesday night as FIU picked up a 71-53 win over the visiting Eagles at Ocean Bank Convocation Center.

FGCU (2-9) hauled in a season-best 54 rebounds which marked the most of since posting 57 on Nov. 29, 2017 against Webber International. FIU (6-3), however, forced the Eagles into 23 turnovers which led to 27 points overall.

"Credit coach Ballard and FIU as they did a good job of pressuring us into turnovers tonight which is something we continue to struggle with. I had hoped that after playing VCU we had some of those issues solved as FIU plays a similar style," said head coach Michael Fly. "I was proud of the effort we put into rebounding tonight as we got after them on the glass, but unfortunately we struggled shooting and that, combined with the turnovers, really hurt us. If we rebound like tonight going forward, we will give ourselves opportunities to win games but our primary focus has to be cutting down the turnovers."

Sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.) led FGCU with 13 points and eight rebounds in front of hometown friends and family. Junior Justus Rainwater (Enunclaw, Wash.) had a team-high nine rebounds to go with six points and three blocked shots, while freshman Dakota Rivers (Windermere, Fla.) added eight points and seven rebounds.

The Panthers were led by Osasumwen Osaghae who had 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Cameron Corcoran had a game-high 15 points on five three pointers. Trejon Jacob rounded out the top scorers with 11 points. 

Both teams combined for 72 total three pointers with FIU hitting 12 and FGCU converting just five. 

Both teams struggled to find rhythm in the opening moments of the game until an 11-to-0 run put FIU up 16-5 at the 15:03 mark following a Isaiah Banks three pointer.

The Eagles closed the gap to single digits with 7:08 left in the first half on a lay-up by junior Jalen Warren (Milton, Ontario), but FIU pushed the lead to as many as 17 before taking a 34-21 lead into halftime.

FGCU continued to struggle offensively in the second half as FIU built out a 20-point lead midway through the frame. The Eagles did string together an 8-to-0 run thanks to six points from freshman Jalen Harper (Mableton, Ga.), but FGCU could not generate enough momentum to cut into the deficit any more than 16 points late in the game.

The Eagles return home to Alico Arena to host Robert Morris on Saturday, Dec. 7 with a 7 PM tip-off on ESPN+. It will be the final game before an 11-day break for exams.

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 157-96 record (.627 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--