FORT MYERS, Fla. – The FGCU men's basketball team (10-15, 5-5 ASUN) ascended to .500 in ASUN Conference play with a 71-64 win over North Alabama (8-17, 5-5 ASUN) Wednesday evening in Alico Arena.
 
The Eagles won their fourth-straight home game and have been victorious in five of their last seven overall to rise into a tie for fourth place in the ASUN standings.
 
"I was really proud of our fight and effort tonight, especially against a team that's as competitive as (North Alabama). (UNA) coach (Tony) Pujol is a good friend of mine. His team fights and claws for everything, and he's doing a tremendous job with that program," FGCU coach Michael Fly said. "That's as tough a team as we've played all year, and to our guys' credit we were able to find a way to win. There were a couple of times the game could have swung in the wrong direction for us, but we had everyone step up tonight and make big plays down the stretch. I think we are still progressing and getting better every day. As long as we continue to get better, the scoreboard will take care of itself."
 
Zach Scott scored a team-high 17 points and continued his torrid pace as of late. The true freshman went 6 of 8 overall and 5 of 6 from 3-point land. He has scored in double figures in all five of FGCU's last five victories, and he has notched at least 14 in three of his last four. Senior Dinero Mercurius continues to shine off the bench, as he poured in four triples and landed on 16 points. Fellow senior Schadrac Casimir added 13 points, while true freshman Caleb Catto dropped 11.
 
The Eagles shot 46.0 percent (23-for-50) from the field, 47.6 percent (10-for-21) from 3-point territory and 83.3 percent (15-for-18) at the free-throw stripe. The Lions posted shooting percentages of 37.0 (20-for-54) overall, 27.6 (8-for-29) from deep and 69.6 (16-for-23) at the line.
 
Christian Agnew scored a game-high 23 points for UNA, while Jamari Blackmon used up 13 shots to finish with 14 points.
 
The initial feeling-out process saw a timid pace through the opening five minutes of action, but a methodical 9-0 run from the home side saw FGCU build a 19-10 lead at the midway point of the first half. The largest lead of the game for the Eagles came at the 9:03 mark when they soared ahead 24-13. North Alabama slowly began to chip away throughout the remainder of the opening stanza, however, and even secured a three-point advantage before Scott knocked down a 3-point basket on FGCU's final possession to send the two sides into intermission locked at 31-31.
 
The steady opening 20 minutes made way to a frantic second half where the lead seesawed back and forth in the early moments. Neither team could find a cushion of more than five points all the way until Scott connected on yet another 3-pointer at the 7:06 mark to give the Green and Blue a 54-47 lead. Mercurius knocked down a rare fast-break triple with 5:42 to play to push FGCU's lead out to 59-50. UNA would not go down quietly, however, as they stifled the Eagle offense and used a 10-2 run to get within 61-60 with just two minutes to play. The home side regained its composure and immediately stretched the lead back out to seven over the next minute of action thanks to four critical points from Casimir and a layup from Catto. From that point on, clutch free throws from Catto and junior RaySean Scott Jr. sealed the game for the Green and Blue.
 
FGCU won the turnover battle (12-15) and also led in assists (15-6), blocks (4-1), steals (8-5), points in the paint (24-18), points off turnovers (21-10), fast-break points (11-2), and bench points (31-9).
 
The win was the first in school history against North Alabama. The Lions still lead the brief all-time series 3-1, but FGCU was able to exact revenge after UNA topped the Eagles 61-56 on Jan. 8 in Florence, Alabama.
 
UP NEXT
FGCU faces a difficult test on the road at Liberty. The Eagles and Flames will lock up at 7 p.m. Feb. 9 in Lynchburg, Virginia. The Saturday clash will be broadcast on ESPN+ and will feature a rematch from earlier this season that saw LU knock off FGCU in Fort Myers.
 
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.
 
-- FGCUATHLETICS.COM --