FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team (13-17, 8-7 ASUN) remained hot at home in a 78-56 victory over Kennesaw State (5-24, 2-12 ASUN) Saturday night in Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles continued to own the longest home win streak in the ASUN Conference, and they stretched that mark to seven in a row. They were also celebrating Senior Night, and the four seniors and three graduating senior managers were all honored prior to tip.
 
One senior recognized was Dolan Mahoney (Bradenton, FL/IMG Academy). The four-year Eagle was rewarded with the first start of his career, and he celebrated in style by knocking down a 3-point basket for the first points of the game for the Green and Blue.
 
"I'm so proud of our guys, and I'm happy for Dinero (Mercurius), Schadrac (Casimir) and Dolan (Mahoney) especially," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "I told these guys that if they stay locked in and focused that this will not be the last game they play in (Alico Arena). We're happy about the win obviously and happy we got a win on Senior Night. But we want to make sure we stay locked in and prepare for Jacksonville."
 
Once Mahoney made his electric exit, the rest of the Eagles went to work. Six different members of the home side chipped in for the first 14 points, and the Green and Blue quickly found a 22-9 advantage. KSU knocked down a jumper at the 8:16 mark to pull within eight at 22-14, but FGCU erupted on a 20-1 run across the next seven minutes to seemingly put the game out of reach.
 
The Eagles led 42-20 at halftime and stretched their advantage to as many as 32 points in the second half. KSU was never able to get closer than the final 22-point margin the rest of the way.
 
Also honored on Senior Night were Dinero Mercurius (Orlando, FL/Faith Baptist Christian/Daytona State), Schadrac Casimir (Stamford, CT/Trinity Catholic/Iona) and Ricky Doyle (Cape Coral, FL/Bishop Verot HS/Michigan). Doyle ended his career due to injury earlier this season, but Mercurius (14 points) scored in double figures for the seventh-straight game. Casimir ended his own streak of scoring in double figures at six, but he stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, six assists, five steals and two rebounds.
 
True freshman Zach Scott (Miami, FL/Westminster Academy) had a game-high 16 points, and junior Christian Carlyle (Jacksonville, FL/Bishop Kenny HS) and sophomore Troy Baxter Jr. (Tallahassee, FL/Oldsmar Christian HS/UNLV) both chipped in 12. In total, 10 different Eagles got their name in the scoring book.
 
FGCU shot 47.6 percent (30-for-63) from the field, 34.3 percent (12-for-35) from behind the 3-point line and 66.7 percent (6-for-9) at the free-throw line. Kennesaw State shot 29.2 percent (19-for-65) overall, 29.4 percent (5-for-17) from distance and 68.4 percent (13-for-19) at the charity stripe.
 
The Eagles led the night in rebounding (42-41), assists (22-9), blocks (7-5), steals (11-10), points in the paint (34-22, fast-break points (10-6), and bench production (37-13).
 
Bryson Lockley finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds to pace the Owls. Danny Lewis added 13 points, and Tyler Hooker chipped in 11.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU hits the road for the final game of the regular season in a 7 p.m. tilt March 1 against Jacksonville. The rare Friday bout will be contested inside Historic Swisher Gymnasium in Jacksonville, Florida.
 
WHERE THEY STAND
The 2019 ASUN Conference Men's Basketball Championship will be conducted March 4-10. The top eight teams qualify for postseason play, and each round will be hosted by the higher seed. FGCU is currently 8-7 in league action and tied for fourth with North Florida. The Eagles are a half-game behind NJIT (8-6) and a game and a half ahead of North Alabama (6-8).
 
Liberty (12-2) and Lipscomb (12-2) are tied for first place in the standings with two games remaining each. FGCU can still finish anywhere between third and sixth in the final league table.
 
The Eagles have won the conference tournament three times in the last six years, and they also hosted the championship game last season.
 
ASUN CHAMPIONSHIP TICKET RESERVATIONS AVAILABLE FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS
The FGCU ticket office is still accepting reservations from season ticket holders for potential ASUN Championship games hosted in Alico Arena. If you're a season ticket holder and interested in reserving your current seats, upgrading your seat location or requesting additional seats, fill out and return the form HERE. Every effort will be made to place your tournament tickets in the same location as your season tickets. Men's home quarterfinal tickets will go on sale to the general public as soon as a top four host seed is clinched.
 
For more information, contact the FGCU Ticket office by phone at 239-590-7145 or by email at tickets@fgcu.edu.
 
SOCIAL CENTRAL
For up-to-the-minute information and behind-the-scenes access to the men's basketball program, follow @FGCU_MBB on Twitter and Instagram. Like us on Facebook at /FGCUMBB and watch us on Snapchat at FGCU_MBB.
 
WE'VE GOT YOUR SEAT
Experience FGCU Basketball this season. The following ticket opportunities are on sale now:
Group Sales
Bring your group of 20 or more to an FGCU Men's or Women's Basketball game. All group tickets include an FGCU hat ($15 value), a $5 game day discount at The Boardwalk restaurant, in game group recognition and more. For more information on group outings, click HERE or call 239-590-7145.
Single Game Tickets
Single game tickets are available for all remaining home games. Discounts are available for current or former Military and Youth ages 3-15. Purchase online HERE or call 239-590-7145.
 
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 155-86 record (.643 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 Sixteen. He has coached a dozen all-conference selections while with the Green and Blue, including two ASUN Player of the Year honors in Sherwood Brown and Brandon Goodwin, and two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections in Bernard Thompson and Demetris Morant. 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).
 
SUPPORT THE CAUSE
FGCU Athletics sponsors events throughout the year 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 73 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 11+ seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just seven+ seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 34 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 and women's soccer again in 2018. In 2016-17, the Green and Blue posted a department-best 6th-place finish in the DI-AAA Learfield Directors' Cup and top-100 showing nationally, ahead of several Power-5 and FBS institutions. FGCU also collectively earned a record 3.35 GPA in the classroom in the Spring, 2018 and had an ASUN Conference and State of Florida best five teams earn the NCAA's Public Recognition Award for their Academic Progress Rate in their sport.  The Eagles also served an all-time high 7,200 volunteer hours – being recognized as one of two runner-ups for the inaugural NACDA Community Service Award presented by the Fiesta Bowl.
 
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