Friday, December 11, 2009

An in-state matchup from “The Sunshine State” takes the spotlight as the A-Sun Game of the Week when FGCU hosts FIU. The Eagles beat the Golden Panthers in their last meeting, 73-70, during the 2007-08 season.

Although barely two years ago, only one player from that encounter remains on the FGCU roster. Chad Lutkenhaus scored two points in four minutes of play. This year, Anthony Banks leads the Eagles in scoring at 11.3 per game. He and Kennesaw State’s Markeith Cummings rank as the only two A-Sun freshmen leading his respective school in scoring. Banks joins five other FGCU newcomers who account for 47 percent of FGCU’s scoring, and in the Eagles' last three contests, their contributions have risen to 55.2 percent (106-192) of the Eagles points. True freshman Hunter Miller leads FGCU with 17 assists (2.83 per game).

Hall of Famer and a member of the 1981 NCAA champion Indiana Hoosiers Isiah Thomas leads FIU as its first-year coach. He totaled a 187-223 record coaching for the Pacers and Knicks in the NBA. His squad features four averaging double figures in scoring, led by junior forward Marvin Roberts, at 15.3 points per game. Junior guard Phil Gary (11.9), junior guard Stephon Weaver (10.5), and senior forward Marlon Bright (10.2) also average double digits as starters.

This meeting, the fourth overall between the two, marks the first taking place at Alico Arena. Prior to their December 2007 meeting, FIU won contests in 2004 by a 77-70 count and two years earlier, 78-50.

Catch all the action on ASun.TV.