FGCU MBB @ NJIT Preview

The FGCU men's basketball team has won three of its last four games and will look to keep the momentum going with a road tilt at NJIT set for 7 p.m. Jan. 30 inside NJIT Wellness and Events Center in Newark, New Jersey.

The Eagles (8-14, 3-4 A-SUN) have knocked off Kennesaw State, Stetson and North Florida as of late. The Highlanders (17-5, 5-2 A-SUN) are on a four-game win streak of their own.

Last Time Out:
FGCU earned a season split by knocking off North Florida 88-80 in A-SUN Conference action Sunday evening in Alico Arena. The Eagles have turned a corner as of late, winning three of their last four games over the last nine days. The victory for the Green and Blue avenged a loss from Jan. 12 in Jacksonville where the Ospreys defeated FGCU 87-66. The Eagles shot 50 percent (32-for-64) from the field, 42.1 percent (8-for-19) from 3-point range and a season-best 88.9 percent (16-for-18) at the free-throw line against UNF.

Senior Schadrac Casimir poured in 33 points, shooting 9 of 14 overall, 6 of 10 from 3-point range and 9 of 11 at the free-throw line. Casimir is averaging 14.2 points per game. The Iona transfer was named A-SUN Newcomer of the Week for the fourth time this season.

True freshman Zach Scott contributed 14 points. Scott is averaging 7.6 points per game.

Redshirt sophomore Troy Baxter Jr. added 12 points, eight rebounds, five assists and a block. Baxter Jr. is averaging 7.3 points per game and leads the team in blocks (20).

Sophomore Brian Thomas registered 10 points and seven rebounds. Since starting in three-straight games after redshirt junior Brady Ernst's concussion, the Kennesaw native is averaging 10 points per game. Thomas is averaging 4.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game and is second behind Baxter Jr. in blocks (18).

Junior Christian Carlyle pumped up the stat sheet with nine points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals. Carlyle is averaging 8.5 points per game.

Scouting NJIT:

The Highlanders have only a handful of losses sprinkled throughout a fruitful 17 victories. The Highlanders earned marquee non-conference triumphs over the likes of Colgate, Army and Wagner, while earning league wins over Kennesaw State, Jacksonville, North Florida, Stetson, and North Alabama. The only two A-SUN setbacks were on the road to UNA and at home to Lipscomb.

Senior Abdul Lewis (12.4 ppg, 9.9 rpg) leads the league in rebounding, while sophomore Zach Cooks (18.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg) is the third-best scorer in the A-SUN this year. Cooks is also second for NJIT in rebounding, and senior Diandre Wilson (11.4 ppg) completes a trio of Highlanders who average in double figures.

NJIT is 8-2 at home this season.

Series History:
The two programs have met just six times, with FGCU owning a 5-1 record in the brief series. Every matchup has come since 2016. The Eagles are 3-0 in Fort Myers and 2-1 in Newark, while riding a four-game win streak in the series.

How to Keep Up:
Livestats will be available for the game and will air on ESPN+. Commentary will be done by play-by-play commentator Mike Ventola and color commentator Dave Calloway.

Fans can also keep updated on the teams' Twitter accounts:
FGCU: @FGCU_WBB

NJIT: @NJITMBB

ESPN+:
The A-SUN will air on the new, subscription-based digital platform ESPN+, which will be the new home for select FGCU and A-SUN games and event broadcasts. Subscribers can try the new app for free for 30 days, which follows to $4.99 a month fee afterwards or can pay $39.99 per-year based on the viewers subscription choice.

Livestats Link: https://www.njithighlanders.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary

ESPN+ Link: http://www.espn.com/watch/_/id/2eaa18dc-d1b5-4d3b-990e-22e367beb31f/florida-gulf-coast-vs-njit