Louisville, KY- #3 FGCU (21-10) faces #2 Bellarmine University (17-13) Thursday night at 7 PM from Freedom Hall.
Stats (FGCU):
The Eagles average 77.7 ppg, shoot 45.1% (858/1902) from the field, and 34.9% (314/901) from beyond the arc. FGCU averages 39.0 team rebounds per game. The Eagles dish out 16.0 assists, 6.8 steals, and 5.1 blocks per game. FGCU averages 13.4 team turnovers per game.
Stats (BU):
The Knights average 70.1 ppg, shoot 47.4% (800/1686) from the field, and 33.1% (226/682) from beyond the arc. BU averages 30.8 team rebounds per game. The Knights dish out 14.8 assists, 5.5 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game. BU averages 9.7 team turnovers per game.
Players To Watch For (FGCU):
5’8 GR G Tavian Dunn-Martin 20.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg
6’11 6th C Kevin Samuel 11.8 ppg, 9.8 rpg
6’3 JR G Cyrus Largie 10.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg
Players To Watch For (BU):
6’3 SR G Dylan Penn 16.3 ppg, 4.2 rpg
6’0 GR G CJ Fleming 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg
6’7 GR F Ethan Claycomb 8.2 ppg, 3.4 rpg
Overview:
#3 FGCU fresh off winning their ASUN Conference First Round game vs #6 UNA, gets a much harder test in #2 Bellarmine University. The Knights defeated the Eagles previously from Alico Arena, 74-63, in late January. The Knights went 11-5 in ASUN Conference play, and earned a bye in the ASUN West division. The Knights are led offensively by 6’3 SR G Dylan Penn who averages 16.3 ppg, and 6’0 GR G CJ Fleming, who averages 15.2 ppg. Head Coach Scott Davenport has led the Knights since 2005. Bellarmine plays tough defense, and doesn’t turn over the ball (9.7 team turnovers per game).
Tavian Dunn-Martin leads the Eagles offensively, and averages 20.9 ppg. Kevin Samuel (11.8 ppg) will be trusted, and is an X factor in this game, with the frontcourt advantage the Eagles will have, being the bigger team. He will need to have a huge game for FGCU to be successful. Head Coach Michael Fly rolled out a starting lineup that included 6’7 Zach Anderson, 6’8 Dakota Rivers, and 6’10 Andre Weir, at one point in Tuesday’s game, and this lineup was productive, and also gave star players Kevin Samuel and Tavian Dunn-Martin, time off the court to rest. Expect to see a “bigs” lineup at some point, and you better believe FGCU will sugar the bigs.” FGCU needs to limit Penn and Fleming, to have a chance in this game. Both guards are the key to victory for Bellarmine.
Eagles Nest Cast 
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