We've got some exciting news Eagle fans!! We have officially inked a four-year deal to rekindle an old @ASUNMBB rivalry with Mercer!



Full release: https://t.co/lAG5zHyJnS#WingsUp || #DunkCity pic.twitter.com/ZMBKXPL55U — FGCU Men's Hoops (@FGCU_MBB) April 24, 2019

FGCU men's basketball coachannounced Wednesday morning that the Eagles have agreed to a four-year contract with former ASUN Conference rival Mercer.FGCU will first travel to Hawkins Arena in Macon, Georgia, on Nov. 15, 2019. The Green and Blue will then welcome the Bears in both the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons before completing the series back in Macon in the 2022-23 campaign. Complete details for the final three games will be announced at a later date.The series announcement continues to bolster an already-exciting upcoming 2019-20 non-conference slate for the Eagles. FGCU will play host to FAU (Nov. 20), UMBC (TBD) and an expected Thanksgiving weekend tournament in Alico Arena. The team will also travel to FIU (Dec. 4), South Dakota State (Dec. 18) and USC (Dec. 29) on top of the trip to Macon."I have a great deal of respect for the Mercer basketball program, and we had tremendous battles on the court with them when they were a member of the ASUN Conference," Fly said. "I am excited to renew this regional rivalry that I think will be good for both programs and their fan bases. The state of Georgia has been supportive for us on the recruiting trail with Peach State stars such as Bernard Thompson and, and I am thrilled to getand Jalen Harper back to Georgia to play in front of their friends and families."The Eagles and Bears met 17 times from 2008 until Mercer left the ASUN for the Southern Conference in 2014. During that stretch, the two sides had numerous memorable matchups that created an intense rivalry. Mercer won nine of the first 10 meetings, but FGCU went on to claim four of the last seven contests.The first two of those four triumphs happened to be two of the most thrilling victories in school history, as the Eagles toppled the Bears in Macon in back-to-back years in the ASUN Tournament. FGCU – the No. 6 seed in the 2012 ASUN Championship – upset No. 2 seed Mercer 62-58 on its home floor in the semifinals. The following year was even more dramatic, as the second-seeded Green and Blue knocked off the top-seeded Bears 88-75 in the finals of the 2013 ASUN Championship. FGCU went on to become the first (and still only) No. 15 seed to win two games and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. The following season, 2013-14, the two teams tied for the ASUN regular season title with the Eagles capturing the top seed and eventually hosting the ASUN Championship, where Mercer prevailed 68-60, before eventually knocking off third-seeded Duke in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.Mercer has posted three winnings seasons and advanced to postseason play three times since moving to the SoCon. The Bears will be led by a new face next year in Greg Gary, who was hired last month. Gary was the head coach at Centenary College for two seasons (2008-10) and most-recently served eight years (2011-19) as an assistant for Purdue out of the Big Ten Conference. During his time with the Boilermakers, he helped lead the team to six NCAA Tournament appearances. Purdue has advanced to at least the NCAA Sweet 16 each of the last three years. The team won a school-record 30 games in 2017-18, and just this past March the Boilermakers upset No. 1 seed Tennessee in overtime to reach the Elite 8 for the first time since 2000.Those interested in becoming new season-ticket holders for 2019-20 can do so by visiting the link below. Joining the Season Ticket Priority List requires a $100 non-refundable deposit which will be credited toward the complete price of the season tickets.Fans can also join the new season-ticket wait list by contacting an Alico Arena Ticket Office representative over the phone at 239-590-7145 or by visiting Monday-Friday between 9 a.m.-5 p.m.The priority list will be processed on a first-come, first-serve basis. Because nearly all Priority Level 1 and 2 season ticket locations were sold out in 2018-19, seating in these sections cannot be guaranteed for new purchasers. Seating location availability for new ticket packages will depend on renewals and upgrades of current season ticket holders. Like in the past, Eagles Club membership may be required for certain seats, with giving levels utilized for access to better locations.Season-ticket renewal information, including pricing, Eagles Club membership requirements and renewal deadlines will be sent via email from the FGCU Ticket Office in mid-to-late May. To ensure contact information is up-to-date, fans are encouraged to fill out the form below.FGCU is set to return a strong young core featuring players such as rising junior(Kennesaw, GA/Kell HS) and rising sophomores(Miami, FL/Westminster Academy) and(Cape Coral, FL/Southwest Florida Christian Academy). Playing in 23 games as a sophomore, Thomas transformed into a defensive stalwart in the last half of the year. He finished the campaign with 44 blocks, while pulling down 4.7 rebounds a game. Scott became the fourth freshman in school history to earn 20 starts and landed on the ASUN All-Freshmen Team after averaging 8.4 points and 3.1 assists. Catto grew into a steady hand off the bench in his inaugural campaign, appearing in all 32 games and finishing with averages of 4.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists.(Jacksonville, FL/Bishop Kenny HS) is currently slated to be the lone senior on next year's squad. The lockdown defender played every game this past season and made 24 starts, averaging 8.1 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists.The rest of the 2019-20 schedule will be released intermittently over the coming weeks as games are finalized.Nov. 15, 2019 – at MercerTBD in 2020-21 – at FGCUTBD in 2021-22 – at FGCUTBD in 2022-23 – at MercerFor 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.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, two ASUN Defensive Player of the Year selections in Bernard Thompson and Demetris Morant and one ASUN Newcomer of the Year in. 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).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.FGCU teams have combined to win an incredible 77 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 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 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 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.