WEST PALM BEACH INVITATIONAL: HIGH POINT/FGCU PREVIEW

Lake Worth, FL- FGCU (10-1) faces High Point University (3-7) in game two of the West Palm Beach Invitational Tuesday afternoon.

Stats:

High Point averages 62.4 ppg, shoots 36.9% (226/612) from the field, and 28.3% (78/276) from beyond the arc. The Panthers average 31.3 team rebounds per game. High Point dish out 12.9 assists, 9.1 steals, and 2.2 blocks per game. The Panthers average 11.5 team turnovers per game.

Players To Watch For (HPU):

5’10 GR F Jaden Wrightsell 13.4 ppg, 4.9 rpg

5’8 R-JR G Jenson Edwards 11.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg

5’6 FR G Nakyah Terrell 9.0 pg, 4.2 rpg

Players To Watch For (FGCU):

6’1 JR G Kierstan Bell 24.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg

5’3 SR G TK Morehouse 12.4 ppg, 2.6 rpg

5’7 GR G Kendall Spray 11.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg

Overview:

This matchup pits Head Coach Karl Smesko against one of his former players, and assistant coaches on his staff at FGCU. High Point Head Coach Chelsea Banbury spent 11 years at FGCU, before accepting the job at HPU. In her two plus years at High Point, Coach Banbury took the Panthers to their first ever NCAA Tournament, after winning the Big South regular season Championship, and Big South tournament. Assistant Coaches Jamie Gluesing, Brittany Brown, and Jessica Cattani, as well as Director of Basketall Operations Nasrin Ulel all played for Head Coach Karl Smesko at FGCU.

High Point is led by Jaden Wrightsell who averages 13.4 ppg. The matchup between Wrightsell and Bell will be the matchup to watch for in this game. High Point has one NCAA D-1 win on the season vs East Carolina, and their non D-1 wins include at home vs King, and Mid-Atlantic Christian. The losses came against Elon, and Wake Forest, at home, while the road losses came against Davidson, Wofford, Liberty, and #16 USF. Ther neutral loss came today in the first game of the West Palm Beach Invitational vs Dayton, where they lost 71-64. The Panthers were led in scoring by Jaden Wrightsell who scored 15 pts.

FGCU overcame much adversity to defeat Michigan State University 85-84 (2 OT) in their first game of the West Palm Beach Invitational. The Eagles had four players finish in double figures in scoring in the game, and were led by Kierstan Bell who finished with 28 points. FGCU is in a prime position to win both games in the West Palm Beach Invitational, and it will be a treat to watch Head Coach Chelsea Banbury and her staff face off vs Head Coach Karl Smesko and the Eagles.

Prediction:

FGCU 87 HPU 63