Jaws of death! Hungry alligator snags turtle at Estero golf course for amazing photo opportunity
SPORTS

FGCU basketball: Eagles return home to face Lipscomb

SETH SOFFIAN
SSOFFIAN@NEWS-PRESS.COM
FGCU's Brett Comer, left, and Julian Debose celebrate Comer's basket against Jacksonville on Saturday (1/17/15) at Alico Arena in Fort Myers.

For whatever its inconsistencies have been this season, FGCU last week accomplished something for the first time in the Joe Dooley era: a weekend road sweep in conference play.

With narrow victories at USC Upstate and Kennesaw State, FGCU (14-7, 4-1 in Atlantic Sun Conference) remained on the heels of first-place North Florida going into two more key home dates this week.

"We got two big wins, but now it's back to business," said redshirt senior forward Jamail Jones. "We've got a big game coming up on Thursday."

Lipscomb (10-10, 4-1), tied with FGCU for second in the A-Sun after a 75-66 home loss Saturday to UNF, visits Alico Arena Thursday night before fourth-place Northern Kentucky (9-11, 3-2) visits Saturday night.

"They beat us pretty bad at their place," FGCU senior Brett Comer said of Lipscomb's 92-71 rout of the Eagles last season behind a barrage of 3-pointers, including conversions on the Bisons' first six attempts.

"They shoot the ball very well. We've got to get back in transition and guard the 3-point line."

FGCU, winners of three straight after losing 80-64 at UNF on Jan. 14, went 1-1 in all four of its two-game A-Sun road trips last season. Its losses were at Jacksonville, Mercer, East Tennessee State and Lipscomb.

But the Eagles, who were 9-0 at home in league play last year before ultimately losing the conference tournament final to Mercer in Alico Arena, eked out a pair of road wins last week in close finishes.

"Maturity, especially at Upstate," Dooley, in his second season at FGCU after 10 years as an assistant at Kansas, said of the Eagles' winning plays in the final minutes of both contests. "We had control of the game, and we lost control of the game, and we made some plays down at the end.

"At Kennesaw, we didn't play well, and we didn't shoot it well, and you're still able to get a win on the road. We made some plays and guys made some shots."

FGCU's four A-Sun wins are against the bottom four teams in the standings, who have a combined league record of 4-16. That makes this week's games another measure of FGCU's postseason worthiness after contending this season with multiple suspensions, injuries and newcomers to the rotation.

"I think we're still trying to figure out some pieces. We've used a bunch of guys. I think we're starting to find a rotation," Dooley said. "The good news is we're not close to being a finished (product) yet."

GUARD THE ARC

Lipscomb is 27th in the nation in 3-pointers per game (8.4) and is tied for second in the A-Sun in points per game (71.8) and total 3-pointers.

Sophomore guard Josh Williams, a 6-5 A-Sun all-freshman honoree last season, leads three Bisons averaging double-figures scoring with 16.5 points a game, third in the A-Sun.

Twin brothers Malcolm and Martin Smith, both 6-5 seniors in Lipscomb's undersized lineup, also average double figures while Williams is one of three Bisons in the top 11 in the league in 3-pointers per game.

"They spread the floor. Almost half their shots on the season are 3-point attempts," Dooley said. "There's a lot of match-up problems with Williams and (Malcolm) Smith because they're basketball players. They're not necessarily position guys."

Sophomore Brett Wishon, a 6-9 forward shooting 36 percent on 3-pointers, adds to the matchup issues.

"I feel like our big men are pretty well prepared for it," Jones said of guarding the perimeter.

"I think we can play a little bit of small," Dooley said. "But I think we can play big and try to make them match up with us a little also."

DEBOSE IMPROVING

Redshirt junior Julian DeBose, named A-Sun Newcomer of the Week for the first time this season after leading FGCU in scoring in both road wins last week, continues progressing, Dooley said.

"We expected big things from him. He's a proven player," Dooley said of the Rice transfer. "I think the biggest thing is he's finding a comfort level. It's hard when you're on a senior-dominated team to step in and not step on people's toes. But he's done a really good job, especially on the defensive end."

UNDER THE WEATHER

Comer played 27 minutes in both games last week, three under his average, with flu-like symptoms.

"I couldn't breathe," he said. "(Dooley) was pulling me out every other minute. I was obviously not myself the last two games."

Follow @NewsPressSeth on Twitter for more FGCU coverage.

Men's basketball

Who : FGCU vs Lipscomb

When: Thursday, 7 p.m.

Where: Alico Arena

Records (A-Sun): FGCU 14-7 (4-1), Lipscomb 10-10 (4-1)

Video: ESPN3.com

Tickets : 590-7145

• CHARITY DRIVE : FGCU will be accepting donations of new shoes or financial gifts to Laces of Love before and during the game. FGCU baseball alum and Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale and his wife, Brianne, have partnered with the local charity, which supports low income and disadvantaged children in Lee and Collier counties. Donations also will be accepted during Saturday's home game, when Sale will become the first FGCU student-athlete to have his jersey retired.

Women's basketball

Who: FGCU at Lipscomb

When: Thursday, 7:30 p.m.

Where: Nashville, Tenn.

Records (A-Sun): FGCU 18-2 (5-0), Lipscomb 8-11 (3-2)

Video: ESPN3.com

Glance : FGCU continues rolling through the A-Sun and this week received votes for the first time this season in the AP media poll and USA Today coaches' poll. The Eagles, who have received votes in at least one of the two major polls in the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 seasons but have not reached the top 25, received three votes in both polls this week. They rank 10th among others receiving votes in the AP poll and 12th in that category in the coaches' poll. FGCU's 13-game winning streak is seventh best in the nation, trailing only teams ranked in the top 25. Winners of four consecutive A-Sun regular-season titles and five of the past six, FGCU is 13-0 all-time against Lipscomb, the Eagles' only perfect record against an A-Sun opponent. Lipscomb was picked to finish sixth of eight A-Sun teams in preseason coach and media polls but is tied for third in the standings following wins over Kennesaw State, Jacksonville and UNF in the Bisons' last three games.

FGCU's Murray, Noll lead A-Sun preseason baseball awards

Mike Murray and Jake Noll lead four FGCU baseball selections to the A-Sun preseason all-conference squad as Pitcher of the Year and Player of the Year, respectively, while the perennial A-Sun contenders and defending-regular season champion Eagles were picked for second in the eight-team league.

Murray, a junior right-hander, and Noll, a sophomore second baseman, were the only unanimous selections to the 13-player preseason squad.

Murray, already named to the Perfect Game and Louisville Slugger/Collegiate Baseball Newspaper preseason All-American squads, became FGCU's fourth A-Sun Pitcher of the Year last season after recording a program record 13 wins with an A-Sun best 1.85 ERA and 79 strikeouts.

Noll, from Charlotte High School, was the Louisville Slugger National Freshman Player of the Year, a Louisville Slugger Third Team All-American and the A-Sun Freshman of the Year last season, among other honors, after hitting .367 and ranking second in the nation with 101 hits.

Junior first baseman Nick Rivera from Cape Coral and Bishop Verot High School and junior outfielder Colton Bottomley also were named to the preseason A-Sun squad from FGCU.

The Eagles received one of eight first-place votes to sit behind preseason favorite Kennesaw State. The Owls, ranked in the top 30 in two national preseason polls, received six first-place votes after winning last year's A-Sun tournament title at FGCU and advancing to an NCAA super regional.

Lipscomb is third with one first-place vote, followed by UNF, Jacksonville, Stetson, USC Upstate and Northern Kentucky.

Wounded Warrior Softball Team visiting FGCU

FGCU on Saturday will host the Wounded Warrior Amputee Softball Team for the third time in as many years with a 3 p.m. exhibition game against an FGCU celebrity team at Swanson Stadium. Admission is free, the public is invited, and donations are encouraged.

The WWAST will be recognized following the game at the FGCU men's game basketball game at 7 p.m. in Alico Arena on Military Appreciation Night.