FGCU Men's Basketball Game Notes & Information
Game 11	FGCU (7-3) vs. Florida A&M (2-4)
Date // Time	Tuesday, Dec. 7 // 7:00 p.m.
Location	Tallahassee, Fla. // Al Lawson Center
Live Statistics	Sidearm Live Stats
Watch Online	FAMU Facebook Live
ASUN Notes	ASUN Standings // ASUN Scoreboard // ASUN Stats
Tickets	Next Home Game: Sun., 12/19 vs. Mercer - Order Online // 866-FGCU-TIX
Twitter	@FGCU_MBB // @FGCUEagles
Instagram	FGCU Men's Basketball
Facebook	FGCU Men's Basketball

  
FORT MYERS, Fla. – Coming off a dramatic 78-68 overtime win against Dartmouth last Saturday, the FGCU men's basketball team returns to action on Tuesday night at Florida A&M. The game starts a two-game road week for the Eagles who will also play at Robert Morris on Saturday night. Tuesday's match-up with the Rattlers will tip at 7 PM and the game will be streamed live through the FAMU Athletics Facebook page.
 
With the win over the Big Green, FGCU is now 7-3 on the year marking the first time the Eagles have won seven of their first 10 games since the 2016-17 campaign. The bulk of this year's start came during the Thanksgiving week where the Green and Blue picked up five-straight wins in a seven-day span.
 
Though FGCU has been successful at home with a 6-1 record in Alico Arena, the Eagles are still searching for their first road victory of the year.
 
That start has FGCU ranked No. 174 in the first NET Rankings of the season – over 100 points higher than last season's final NET ranking of 286 for the Eagles in the abbreviated season. That puts FGCU fourth among ASUN teams with Jacksonville the top league team at No. 139 followed by Lipscomb (No. 159), and Liberty (No. 160). In last year's first NET Ranking, only Liberty (No. 70) and FGCU (No. 197) were among the top 200 teams.
 
FAMU (2-4) snapped a three-game losing skid last Wednesday against Fort Valley State. The three losses came on the road against Miami, UTEP, and at Cal Riverside.
 
This marks just the third time the two teams have played all-time with FGCU winning the previous two meetings. The first was in 2013 in Las Vegas, while the most recent came last season in Alico Arena.
 
Through 10 games this year, FGCU is averaging 78.9 points while giving up 71.0 per game. The Eagles are shooting 45.5 percent from the floor and 36.2 percent from deep. FGCU ranks third in the league in scoring, fourth in scoring margin (+7.7), second in blocked shots (5.0), and second in made three-pointers (108, 10.8/game), while leading the league in assists (165, 16.5/game).
 
The Green and Blue is led by Tavian Dunn-Martin and Cyrus Largie who are averaging 17.8 and 13.7 points per game, respectively. Kevin Samuel is averaging just under a double-double with 10.3 points and a team-best 8.7 rebounds, while adding 27 blocks.
 
The Rattlers are averaging 64.8 points per game while giving up 68.8 points. MJ Randolph leads FAMU averaging 18.5 points followed by 11.0 points from Jalen Speer. DJ Jones (9.8 ppg) and Bryce Moragne (9.0) are just behind.
 
Leaders Among the ASUN
• Tavian Dunn-Martin ranks third in the ASUN with his 17.8 points per game. He also ranks fifth in three-point percentage (.377), sixth in three-pointers made (2.56), and fourth in assists per game (4.1). His 34 points at Loyola Chicago stands as the second-best individual performance by any ASUN player this year.
• Kevin Samuel leads the ASUN in blocked shots (3.1) and rebounding (8.2).
• Cyrus Largie ranks second in field goal percentage (.526) and leads the league in steals (19, 1.90).
 
Dunn-Martin Goes Over 1,000 Career Points
• Tavian Dunn-Martin hit the 1,000 career point plateau in the win over Purdue Fort Wayne with 27 points on the night. He did the bulk of his scoring in his three years at Duquesne with a total of 738 points. He also scored 145 points in 2016-17 during his true freshman year at Akron.
• He enters the FAMU game with 1,043 points in his career spanning 125 total games.
 
Samuel Making an Impact
• Kevin Samuel has made an instant impact on FGCU and is averaging nearly a double-double on the year with 10.3 points and 8.7 rebounds. He already has 27 blocked shots this year giving him 233 for his career. His is the fifth-leading active career shot blocker and is five blocks behind Osun Osunniyi of St. Bonaventure.
• His 3.0 blocks per game would smash the FGCU single season record of 1.9 which was set by Brian Thomas in 2018-19. With 27 total blocks through just nine games, he is 11 away from cracking the top-10 for a single season and just over halfway to surpassing the single season record of 51 blocks set by Kyle Marks in 2008-09.
• On top of his defense, he has been an efficient scorer shooting 69.6 percent from the field including 26-of-34 the last four outings. He posted his first double-double of the year with 16 points and 11 rebounds against Purdue Fort Wayne. He notched a season-high 19 points with 12 rebounds in the Dartmouth win.
• The TCU transfer was selected as the ASUN Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and as a member of the league's preseason all-conference team.
• He is the third FGCU player to earn the preseason ASUN Defensive Player of the Year award and the first since Demetris Morant did so in 2016-17. Bernard Thompson earned the accolade twice in 2013-14 and 2014-15.
• At TCU, the 6-foot-11, 255 pound center started all 95 career games of his career and set the school record for blocked shots with 206 in three years. For his career prior to FGCU, he averaged 8.8 points and 7.7 rebounds while leading the Big 12 in blocks twice.
• Last season, he averaged 8.8 points, third best on the team, through 26 games. His 7.8 rebounds ranked third in the Big 12, while his 1.7 blocks per game led the conference. His 62.5 field goal percentage was the best on the team as well.
 
Among The Nation's Leaders
• FGCU ranks among the national leaders in several key statistical categories including fifth in total assists (165) and seventh in total three-point field goals made (108).
• Other notable national rankings include: 5th - three-pointers attempted (298), 19^th – three-point field goals per game (10.8), 12^th – total rebounds (385), 17^th – total blocks (50), and 20^th – total steals (84).
 
Hot Shooting Over Thanksgiving Break
• In the three wins of the Hilton Garden Inn FGCU Invitational, the Eagles shot 49.4 percent from the floor including 44.9 percent from deep. Of the 84 made field goals, 35 came from beyond the arc with Tavian Dunn-Martin knocking down seven and Austin Richie connecting on six. Kevin Samuel led the Eagles in shooting going 17-of-21 (81.0 percent), while Cyrus Largie hit 15-of-29 shots (51.7 percent). On top of his scoring performance which earned him the ASUN Player of the Week honor, Dunn-Martin averaged just over six assists per game highlighted by 13 against Southeastern Louisiana.
 
Second Half Surge Gets FGCU Past Rhode Island
• In a game that saw 10 ties and nine lead changes, it was a pair of Tavian Dunn-Martin free throws with 3.7 seconds remaining the pushed the FGCU men's basketball team past Rhode Island on Tuesday night in Alico Arena. Dunn-Martin finished with a game-high 26 points with four key points in the final 22 seconds as FGCU rallied from an 11-point deficit at halftime with a sensational second half. The graduate transfer from Duquesne scored 18 points in the second half and finished the night 8-of-13 from the floor, a perfect 8-of-8 from the charity stripe, and added two assists. It marked his 10^th career game with 20-or-more points including his season-high 34 points earlier this season at Loyola Chicago.
• Caleb Catto went 4-for-4 from behind the arc as he added 14 points including a pair late in the first half to keep the Eagles close. Senior Kevin Samuel chipped in with five points and pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.
 
Balanced Offense Paces FGCU Over Eckerd
• Six players, led by 15 points from both Dakota Rivers (Windermere, Fla./Windermere HS) and Zach Anderson (Orlando, Fla./Apopka HS), scored in double-figures on Sunday night as FGCU defeated Eckerd, 99-59. Tavian Dunn-Martin (13), Cyrus Largie (12), Andre Weir (11), and Kevin Samuel (11) all socred in double-digits making it the first time since the Eagles' 103-70 win over North Florida on Jan. 29, 2018.
 
Dunk City Reunion Sellout
• The home game against No. 25 USC and former Eagles head coach Andy Enfield was officially a sellout with 4,509 fans packing into The Nest. It was just shy of the program record 4,711 fans who were on hand to see FGCU defeat North Florida for the 2017 ASUN Championship title.
• The game was part of a special two-day event as FGCU held the official induction ceremony for the 2013 Dunk City Team into the newly formed Athletics Hall of Fame. Returning members from that team were also honored at halftime on Tuesday.
• It also marked the first time in program history that a Top 25-ranked opponent had visited Alico Arena in the Division I era.
 
Dunn-Martin Gets Hot In Debut
• Tavian Dunn-Martin certainly made a splash in his FGCU debut on Saturday at Loyola Chicago. The 5-foot-8 guard scored a career-high 34 points which stands as the second-most for a single-game by an ASUN player this year.
• The effort also ranks as the sixth-most points for a single game overall in FGCU history and marked the second-most points in the program's Division I era. It also stood as the most points for a player in their Eagle debut.
• Dunn-Martin's nine three pointers tied the program's Division I era record. At the start of the 2nd half, he hit four straight triples which helped FGCU cut an 18 point halftime deficit to just four in the second half before the Ramblers were able to hold off the Eagles to win the game. Overall, he shot 55 percent for the game (64.3 percent from beyond the arc) connecting on 11-of-20 field goal attempts.
 
Among The ASUN's Best Defense
• Last season, FGCU led the ASUN in eight team statistical categories including blocked shots per game (4.3), defensive rebounds (27.33), steals per game (7.4), and total blocks (77). The Eagles were also second in defensive field goal percentage (42.1) and turnovers forced (14.44), while ranking third in scoring defense (69 ppg).
• While Kevin Samuel is expected to bolster FGCU's defense with his TCU-record 206 career blocked shots, making him one of the top-10 active career players in the NCAA this season, FGCU also returns last season's top shot blocker in Dakota Rivers.
• Rivers led the ASUN last year with 1.94 blocks per game as well as total blocks (35). He enters 2021-22 ranked fifth in career blocked shots (74) and first in career blocked shots per game (1.5).
 
Traveling Through The Portal
• With the change of transfer rules and the additional year of eligibility due to COVID-19, FGCU made recruiting transfers a high priority for this season's roster.
• In addition to Samuel, FGCU added Tavian Dunn-Martin (Duquesne), Matt Halvorsen (Kingsport, Tenn./Christ School/Western Carolina), Carlos Rosario (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic/Redemption Prep/Pensacola College/McNeese State), and Austin Richie (Glenwood, Ill./Don Bosco Institute/Triton College/Tulsa).
• Dunn-Martin was the 2018-19 Atlantic 10 Sixth Man of the Year and has played in 116 career games, while Halvorsen hit 297 career three pointers to rank 9th all-time in Southern Conference history.
• Rosario and Richie each bring a wealth of experience at the Division I level and add depth at the forward and guard positions, respectively.
 
Eagles Return 63% of Scoring From 2020-21
• Highlighted by returning its top two scorers in Cyrus Largie (13.4 ppg) and Caleb Catto (13.3 ppg), FGCU returns 63-percent of its scoring from last season.
• Among the transfers, three averaged double figures last year: Dunn-Martin (10.2 ppg), Halvorsen (12.1 ppg), and Rosario (12.0 ppg). Samuel averaged 8.8 points last season, but had his best statistical season in 2019-20 where he scored 10.0 points per game with 8.4 rebounds and a Big 12 leading 2.7 blocks per game.
  
Individual Tickets, Mini Plans Available
• Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by going online to www.FGCUTickets.com or calling 866-FGCU-TIX. Group tickets can also be purchased for 10-or-more making a memorable evening for families, businesses, or other organizations.
 
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.

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 196-137 record (.583 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 86 conference regular season and tournament titles in just 14+ seasons at the Division I level. Additionally, in just nine seasons of D-I postseason eligibility, the Eagles have had a combined 42 teams or individuals compete in NCAA championships. Eight FGCU programs have earned a top-25 national ranking in their respective sport - including women's basketball (No. 25, 2021-22), beach volleyball (No. 20, 2021) 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 3.50 GPA in the classroom in the fall 2020 semester and has outperformed the general University undergraduate population for 24 consecutive semesters. The 2019 Fall, 2020 Spring, 2020 Fall, and 2021 Spring semesters each saw another milestone reached as all 15 programs achieved a 3.0-or-higher team GPA in each. 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.
 
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