MIAMI (November 10, 2016) – The FIU men's basketball team will officially tipoff the 2016-17 season on Friday night, Nov. 11, when it butts heads with Florida Memorial University on Lime Court at FIU Arena. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. and is the second game of a season-opening doubleheader with the women's team facing UCF at 7 p.m.  

GAME ONE: FIU vs. FLORIDA MEMORIAL
Friday, November 11, 2016 | 7 p.m. | Lime Court at FIU Arena | Miami, Fla. | PantherVision (CUSA TV)

FIU PANTHERS
Record: 0-0, 0-0 C-USA
Last Game: First game
Head Coach: Anthony Evans
Alma Mater: St. Thomas Aquinas, 1994
Career Record: 143-146/ninth season
Record at FIU: 44-52/third season    
       
FLORIDA MEMORIAL LIONS
Record: 0-2, 0-0 The Sun Conference
Last Game: L, 87-82 vs. Talladega, Nov. 9, 2016
Head Coach: Artis Maddox
Alma Mater: Mountain State
Career Record: 10-21/Second season
Record at school: 10-21/Second season

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
TV/Video: PantherVision (CUSA TV)
Josh Appel (Play-by-play)
Pete Pelegrin (Color analyst)     
Radio/Audio: FIU Sports Radio Network
Live Stats: FIUSports.com
Series: FIU leads the series 14-5
Twitter: @FIUHoops

QUICK HITS
Friday marks the beginning of FIU's 36th season of intercollegiate basketball on the West Side - and the fourth season in Conference USA - as the Panthers tipoff the 2016-17 campaign against Florida Memorial ... Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. ... The contest is the second game of a season-opening women's and men's doubleheader with the FIU women's team taking on UCF at 5 p.m.

Friday's meeting with the Lions is FIU's lone home game in its first five outings ... Following the outing against FMU, the Panthers will travel to Deland to face in-state foe Stetson on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m., before heading to Mobile, Alabama, for the Red Diamond Roundball Classic at the University of South Alabama, Nov.18-20 ... The Panthers don't return to Lime Court at FIU Arena until Nov. 23 when they butt heads with Ave Maria at 7 p.m. 

The Panthers come into the contest against the Lions with a 21-14 record in season openers all time ... FIU looks for its third-straight, season-opening win, and its fourth victory in the past five years in season lid lifters.

Anthony Evans begins his fourth season as head coach of the Panthers, and his 10th season overall as a head coach, at both Norfolk State and FIU.

FOR TICKET INFORMATION ...
Single game reserved tickets are $10 ... Season tickets can be purchased for as low as $50 and group ticket options for as low as $5 ... For ticket questions or to purchase tickets, please visit FIUSports.com or call 305-FIU-GAME.

UP NEXT FOR FIU
Following tonight's game against Florida Memorial the Panthers will hit the road for the first of four-straight away games beginning with Stetson on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. ... FIU then heads to Mobile, Alabama, to take part in the 2016 Red Diamond Roundball Classic at the University of South Alabama, Nov. 18-20 ... The Panthers will face the host Jaguars, Jacksonville and Youngstown State during the three-day event ... FIU returns home on Nov. 23 to butt heads with Ave Maria at 7 p.m.

SCOUTING THE LIONS
Florida Memorial comes into tonight's game with a 0-2 record following a 87-82 loss to Talladega College in Miami Gardens on Wednesday night ... The Lions began the 2016-17 campaign with a 72-68 win at Voorhees College in Denmark, South Carolina on Nov. 5 ... FMU will face one other Division I program this season when it travels to Jacksonville to face the Dolphins on Dec. 19.

Charlie Nedd-Araujo leads the Lions in scoring, averaging 22.0 points-per-game, while Aaron Bryant and Jaelyn Johnson-Coston are averaging 15.5 and 14.5 points-per-contest, respectively ... Davon Williams is leading the way on the glass, grabbing 10.0 rebounds-per-game.

THE SERIES AGAINST FLORIDA MEMORIAL
Friday's game marks the 20th meeting all-time in the series with FIU holding a commanding 14-5 lead dating back the inaugural meeting on Jan. 18, 1982 (W, 81-77) ... The Panthers have won seven-straight against the Lions, including a 67-51 win last season ... The Lions' last win was on Feb. 9, 1987 squeaking out an 87-84 decision at FIU.

THE PREVIOUS MEETING WITH THE LIONS
The Panthers posted a 67-51 win over Florida Memorial, on Nov. 16, 2015.

Former Panthers Adrian Diaz and Daviyon Draper led the way for FIU in the victory ... Draper scored a team-high 19 points, while Diaz recorded his eighth-career double-double - and his second-consecutive of the season - with a 17-point, 14-rebound effort ... Jason Boswell also chipped in with 10 points.

Donte McGill earned his first career start for the Panthers and made the most of his opportunity ... McGill netted nine points, grabbed six rebounds, and had three assists in 27 minutes.

JUST FOR OPENERS
FIU comes into Friday's season opener boasting an 19-14 record in lid lifters (two wins - the season opener in 2004-05 vs. Florida Atlantic, and in 2003-04 vs. Morris Brown were vacated due to NCAA sanctions) ... The Panthers are looking for their third-straight season-opening victory, and their fourth in the past six years.

The following are FIU results in season openers under Head Coach Anthony Evans:
Nov. 13, 2015 vs. Trinity Baptist (W, 71-39)
Nov. 14, 2014 vs. Florida College (W, 65-58)
Nov. 8, 2013 vs. Eastern Kentucky (L, 83-61)

With a win, FIU Head Coach Anthony Evans will improve his career coaching record in season openers to 6-4 ... Evans was 3-3 in openers at Norfolk State, with two of the three losses coming at Marquette (99-68), to tip off the 2011-12 campaign, and at Baylor (86-58) to start the 2009-10 season.

FIU Arena has been very kind to the Panthers in season openers through the years ... The Blue and Gold come into Friday's contest with a 16-5 record (two wins - the season opener in 2004-05 vs. Florida Atlantic, and in 2003-04 vs. Morris Brown were vacated due to NCAA sanctions) all-time in season openers on their home floor ... FIU is 5-1 in its last six home-opening games with the only loss coming to Miami (73-50) on Nov. 11, 2006.