Florida Gulf Coast Eagles Face Critical Matches: Cal State Bakersfield and Inaugural Atlantic Slam

The Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) basketball teams are gearing up for significant matches in the coming days. On the men’s side, the FGCU Eagles are set to face the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners on Friday, November 22, in the first round of the 2024 Homewood Suites Classic. This matchup, scheduled for 11 a.m. ET at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Florida, will be the first meeting between the two schools. The Eagles, currently 0-4, are looking to secure their first win of the season, while the Roadrunners boast a 3-1 record. FGCU is favored by 5.5 points, with an over/under of 131.5 points.

In their last outing, the Eagles narrowly lost to Drake with a score of 63-61, despite strong performances from players like Zavian McLean, who scored 17 points and had three steals. The Roadrunners, on the other hand, are coming off a 74-56 victory over Fresno State, led by Corey Stephenson’s 17 points and nine rebounds.

Meanwhile, the FGCU women’s basketball team is preparing for the inaugural Atlantic Slam in Canada. The Eagles will face Georgetown and Cincinnati on Prince Edward Island, marking their first encounters with these teams in program history. The team, currently 1-2, will play Georgetown on Saturday at 5 p.m. and Cincinnati on Sunday at 3 p.m., with both games streamed on ESPN+. FGCU recently avoided their first 0-3 start by defeating NJIT 73-53, led by Lauryn Taylor’s 16 points and 10 rebounds, and Cerina Rolle’s career-high 15 rebounds.

The women’s team, under first-year head coach Chelsea Lyles, is looking to build on their recent win and maintain their strong home win streak, which stands at 33 games. Lyles, who has a perfect career win percentage, will be crucial in guiding the team through these challenging matches.