LYNCHBURG, Va. – Junior Jalen Warren (Milton, Ontario) notched his second 20-point game of the season, but a big first half for Liberty (21-3, 7-2 ASUN) led the Flames past the FGCU men's basketball team (7-17, 4-5 ASUN), 61-46, on Saturday night at the Vines Center.
 
The effort for Warren was just one shy of his season-high 21 point effort in the win over FAU and came after an 18-point game in Thursday's win over Jacksonville. The guard was an efficient 8-of-12 from the floor and went 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
 
Sophomore Zach Scott (Miami, Fla.) nearly had a double-double with 10 points and eight boards rounding out the Eagles' top performers.
 
"We had done a really good job the last few games of limiting turnovers which was a problem for us early in the year," said head coach Michael Fly. "With 20 points for Liberty off turnovers, had we been able to limit that by even half, I think we would have been in a better spot to win this game. We thought Jalen would have a good night based on the scouting report, but they were able to take us out of some other offensive sets which was compounded by the turnovers."
 
The Flames converted 16 FGCU turnovers into 20 points which proved the major difference in the game. Overall, Liberty shot 55.6 percent from the floor going 25-of-45 while the Eagles hit 18-of-45 (40 percent) for the game.
 
Liberty took a 33-14 lead into the half after a tough 10 minute stretch for the Eagles allowed the Flames to open up a 14-point lead. FGCU started the half on a strong note trailing just 9-8 at the 14:13 mark, but the Eagles went cold offensively going 0-for-5 from the floor with seven turnovers as Liberty built out a 26-12 lead.
 
With under three minutes to go, Scott converted a fast-break lay-up to briefly stem the tide, but the Flames closed the opening stanza with seven straight points for the 19-point lead at the intermission.
 
The Eagles were able to cut the deficit to 13 on a three-pointer by junior Sam Gagliardi (Gig Harbor, Wash.) midway through the second half, but that proved as close as the game would get down the stretch.
 
The Flames were led by 16 points by Georgie Pacheco-Ortiz and 14 points, seven rebounds from Caleb Homesley. Scottie James added 10 points going 5-of-7 from the field.
 
FGCU will return to action with a pair of home games next week at Alico Arena as Stetson visits on Thursday, Feb. 6 followed by UNF on Saturday, Feb. 8. Both games are slated for 7 PM tips and will be streamed live on ESPN+. With both teams ahead of FGCU (t-6th) in the ASUN standings (UNF, t-1st; Stetson, 3rd), a pair of wins could move the Eagles as high as third.
 
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. You can also sign-up to have news on FGCU men's basketball and other programs delivered directly to your inbox by visiting www.fgcuathletics.com/email.
 
BASKETBALL TICKET INFORMATION
FGCU basketball tickets for the 2019-20 season are on sale and can be purchased by contacting 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. 

E.A.G.L.E. CAMPAIGN
IT TAKES A TEAM to achieve our newest goal - a $10 million campaign to address student-athlete needs in continued academic success, life skills, mental health, nutrition, and strength and conditioning as well as departmental needs in facility expansion and improvement as well as mentoring and leadership training for coaches and staff. The name embodies our mission and the purpose of the E.A.G.L.E. Campaign - Eagle Athletics Generating Lifetime Excellence. Join Our Team and pledge your gift today to help the Eagles of tomorrow!
 
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 162-104 record (.609 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 12-plus seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just eight-plus 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 women's basketball (2019-20) and both men's soccer (2018, 2019) and women's soccer (2018) as three 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-one 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--