@FGCU_MBB adds Hilton Garden Inn Classic to 2019-20 schedule

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The FGCU men's basketball program is inching closer to completing its 2019-20 schedule with the finalization of a Thanksgiving weekend tournament (Friday-Sunday).

The Green and Blue will host North Dakota (Nov. 29, 7:30 p.m.), Campbell (Nov. 30, 7:30 p.m.) and Georgia Southern (Dec. 1, 5 p.m.) as part of the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Classic. The Eagles will also face Florida Tech on Nov. 26 as part of the event, while Georgia Southern will host Carver College on Dec. 6.

"We put together a competitive event that will continue to prepare our team for a successful season, including a program that won their league last year (Campbell) and a perennial 20-win team who will be picked towards the top of their league this year in Georgia Southern," FGCU head coach Michael Fly said. "I also think this tournament gives our fans a chance to bring their families to Alico right after Thanksgiving for a fun-packed three days of basketball."

Georgia Southern finished 21-12 last year, including a 12-6 record (2nd place) in the Sun Belt, before advancing to the conference semifinals. The two Eagles have played twice previously, with both contests occurring in a nine-day window in December 2016 and witnessing the road team winning each contest - FGCU 85-82 in Statesboro and GSU 72-59 in Fort Myers.

The defending Big South champions, Campbell, finished 20-13 overall and 12-4 in the Big South, before earning a bid to the NIT, where they fell on the road to UNC Greensboro in the opening round. A former ASUN rival, the Camels departed the conference after the 2009-10 season. Overall, Campbell leads the all-time series 4-3.

North Dakota went 12-18 and finished in seventh place in the Summit League in 2018-19. The Fighting Hawks participated in the 2015 Hilton Garden Inn Classic and went 1-2, defeating Bowling Green and dropping contests to FGCU (73-60) and Youngstown State. UND won its only previous contest against FGCU in the 2004 season opener at the Disney Division II Tip-Off Classic in Orlando (73-64).

Here is the full schedule of events, which will be included in the season ticket package:

Friday, Nov. 29
Campbell vs Georgia Southern, 4:30 p.m.
FGCU vs North Dakota, 7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 30
North Dakota vs Georgia Southern, 4:30 p.m.
FGCU vs Campbell, 7:00 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 1
North Dakota vs Campbell, 12 p.m.
FGCU vs Georgia Southern, 5 p.m.

Other tournament games
Florida Tech at FGCU - Nov. 26, 7 p.m.
Carver at Georgia Southern - Dec. 6

With the potential to add three more contests, the Eagles are currently slated for a minimum of 15 home contests in Alico Arena. It is anticipated at least one more home game will be added to the schedule.

2019-20 Non-Conference Schedule
Nov. 9 vs UMBC
Nov. 11 @ Dartmouth
Nov. 15 @ Mercer
Nov. 20 vs FAU
Nov. 26 vs Florida Tech
Nov. 29 vs North Dakota
Nov. 30 vs Campbell
Dec. 1 vs Georgia Southern
Dec. 4 @ FIU
Dec. 7 vs Robert Morris
Dec. 18 @ South Dakota State
Dec. 29 @ USC

Notes
In other news, the program announced that Gabriel Chachashvili, a 6-10 forward from Nazareth Illit, Israel, won't be playing for FGCU this year after he signed a pro contract in Israel, which eliminates his NCAA eligibility. Also, Osborn Shema, a 7-0 forward from Rwanda, did not qualify academically and therefore will not enroll at FGCU.

One of the two scholarships vacated by Chachasvili and Shema led Coach Fly and staff to add sharpshooting guard Sam Gagliardi, who joined the program in June. The other scholarship will allow future flexibility for Coach Fly and his staff in the form of a transfer at the semester break or an additional scholarship in the 2020 recruiting class.

Further, senior guard Christian Carlyle suffered an injury earlier this summer, which resulted in surgery. His timetable for return is uncertain at this moment.

BASKETBALL SEASON TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball encourages fans to become season ticket holders for the 2019-20 season. 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 the link below.

Join the 2019-20 Season Ticket Priority List

Seating locations for new ticket packages will depend on availability. Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.

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.

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 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 78 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 12 seasons at the Division-I level. Additionally, in just eight 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 and women's soccer again in 2018. 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--

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Players Mentioned

#11 Schadrac Casimir: G; 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior

#3 Christian Carlyle: G; 6' 6"; Senior

#15 Sam Gagliardi: G; 6' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#11 Schadrac Casimir
: 5' 10"; Redshirt Senior
: G

#3 Christian Carlyle
: 6' 6"; Senior
: G

#15 Sam Gagliardi
: 6' 4"; Junior
: G

Players Mentioned

#11 Schadrac Casimir

#3 Christian Carlyle

#15 Sam Gagliardi

Players Mentioned

#11 Schadrac Casimir

#3 Christian Carlyle

#15 Sam Gagliardi