UNA/FGCU PREVIEW

Fort Myers, FL- FGCU (14-10, 4-7 ASUN) faces UNA (13-11, 5-6 ASUN), Saturday night at 7 PM from Alico Arena.

Stats (UNA):

UNA averages 74.8 ppg, shoots 46.6% (659/1413) from the field, and 37.3% (177/475) from beyond the arc. The Lions average 34.5 team rebounds per game. UNA dishes out 12.0 assists, 6.1 steals, and 3.2 blocks per game. The Lions average 11.3 team turnovers per game.

Stats (FGCU):

FGCU averages 70.9 ppg, shoots 43.1% (597/1386) from the field, and 35.1% (222/632) from beyond the arc. The Eagles average 35.9 team rebounds per game. FGCU dishes out 12.9 assists, 6.9 steals, and 3.5 blocks per game. The Eagles average 12.1 team turnovers per game.

3 Players To Watch For (UNA):

6’0 SO G Daniel Ortiz 13.6 ppg, 3.3 rpg

-He was a member of the 2022 ASUN All-Freshman Team

-Ortiz was one of just two players on the five-member team to be a unanimous selection

-Daniel led UNA and was 11th in the ASUN in scoring at 14.4 points per game

6’3 JR G KJ Johnson 11.9 ppg, 2.7 rpg

-Transfer from rival Lipscomb University

-He averaged 10 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game in his final season for the Bisons

-KJ scored 861 career points, dished out 204 assists and was a member of the 2021 ASUN All-Freshman Team.

6’0 FR G Jacari Lane 11.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg

-Jacari played point guard for coach Greg Brown at Lee High School in Huntsville

-He was the al.com Tennessee Valley Player of the Year after leading the Generals to a pair of Class 5A state championships and was an AHSAA first team All-State selection after averaging 21.9 points per game and was a finalists for the Alabama Class 5A Player of the Year.

3 Players To Watch For (FGCU):

6’1 SR G Isaiah Thompson 14.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg

6’7 JR F Zach Anderson 12.5 ppg, 7.4 rpg

6’3 JR G Chase Johnston 11.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg

Overview:

FGCU and UNA square off for the first time this season, Thursday night in Fort Myers. Head Coach Tony Pujol has led the Lions since 2018. Daniel Ortiz leads UNA offensively, averaging 13.6 ppg, and he has kept up the pace offensively, since his sensational Freshman season last year. Former Lipscomb guard, KJ Johnson, a rare in conference transfer, like Chase Johnston, is having a strong season, averaging 11.9 ppg. Stetson snapped UNA’s four game winning streak, Thursday night from the Edmunds Center.

The Eagles are led offensively by Isaiah Thompson, who is averaging 14.3 ppg. Thompson went off Thursday night in a losing effort vs UCA, erupting for 29 points. Something has to give for this team, who is full of scorers and playmakers, and the time is now for the Eagles to get back on track at Alico Arena.