FORT MYERS, Fla. – Early fouls came back to haunt the FGCU men's basketball team as it dropped a 64-59 result to Robert Morris on Saturday night at Alico Arena. In a game that saw nine lead changes and nine ties, it was ultimately the Colonials' trips to the charity stripe in the final minutes that made the difference.

"We're frustrated because I think we are a better team than our record shows. I thought tonight we saw us take some positive steps forward in certain areas, we're just a play or two away, unfortunately, from really having success. I still think we are going to mature into a good team, but the scoreboard just isn't indicating that right now. It's hard to win games when you are young and inexperienced. These are some growing pains that I know frustrate our fans, who have been so tremendously supportive of us, but I do see a bright future ahead for us."

Though FGCU (2-10) opened up the night with a 5-0 run, Robert Morris (3-8) eventually broke the seal around the 17-minute mark and proceeded to take its first lead of the game shortly after. Redshirt sophomore Malik Hardy (Miramar, Fla.) gave the home team a 21-20 edge with two minutes left in the first half, but the Colonials responded with an 8-0 run to take a 28-21 advantage into the break.  

In the opening minutes of the second half, Robert Morris continued to find success on the offensive end of the floor and led by as much as 11 at one point. The Green and Blue slowly chipped away at the lead until a dunk from junior Justus Rainwater (Enumclaw, Wash.) and an ensuing free throw pulled the home team within two at the 11:36 mark.

FGCU eventually took its first lead since the opening half when senior Tracy Hector Jr. (Riverdale, Ga.) found sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.), who made a layup that put the team up 46-45 with just under seven minutes to go. The Colonials used being in the bonus to their advantage and tried to pull away with free throws until Scott tied things up once again at 49 points apiece with five minutes left in the game.

The teams kept things close in the final minutes of play. Sophomore Caleb Catto's (Cape Coral, Fla.) back-to-back treys regained the lead for the home team at 55-54 with four and a half minutes to go, but Robert Morris' trips to the charity stripe powered the visiting team past the Eagles.

A free throw by junior Jalen Warren (Milton, Ontario) cut the edge down to just three in the final seconds of play, but the home team could not find the momentum to overtake the Colonials.

Despite the loss, FGCU held a 28-20 advantage in points in the paint, which was boosted by a perfect 5-of-5 night from Rainwater. In addition to his 11-point contribution, both Scott (14) and Warren (12) finished with double-digit points. The Eagles also held a 38-36 advantage in second-half scoring, but it wasn't enough to overcome Robert Morris' first-half margin. 

Following an 11-day break for exams, the Eagles will hit the road to take on South Dakota State on Wednesday, Dec. 18. Tip-off against the Jackrabbits is slated for 7 p.m. and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.

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 157-97 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--