MIAMI (May 31, 2016) – FIU Head Men's Basketball Coach Anthony Evans announced today the signing of 6-foot-9 junior forward Richard Bivens from Bakersfield, California, (East Los Angeles Community College) during the recent spring signing period. Bivens, who joins fellow spring junior college signees Eric Lockett of Chipola College and Ronald Whitaker of Southwest Tennessee Community College, is expected to contribute immediately during the 2016-17 season.

"I am excited to add Richard to our basketball program." said Evans. "He is an athletic forward that can score from the perimeter and in the post. His ability to rebound and defend multiple positions will be an asset to our team."

Bivens comes to FIU after playing two seasons at East Los Angeles Community College (ELAC) where he helped guide the Huskies to a 48-15 record. During the 2015-16 campaign Bivens was second on the team in scoring, averaging 10.9 points-per-game and led the team on the glass, grabbing 8.2 rebounds-per-game. His rebounding average and scoring average were good enough for second and ninth, respectively in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA), while his blocked shot-per-game average was third. Bivens was an all-around threat on the boards for the Huskies during his final campaign. In addition to his 8.2 boards-per-game, he was third in the CCCAA in defensive rebounds, grabbing 5.2 per game, and fourth in offensive rebounds pulling down 3.0 per contest. He also shot 49.4 percent from the field on the year which was fourth in the CCCAA.

Bivens played in 29 games, getting the starting nod in 28 outings, and scored in double figures 18 times, including a career-high-tying 22 points. At the conclusion of his sophomore season, Bivens was named to the CCCAA's All-South Coast Conference Northern Division Team.

The Huskies finished the 2015-16 season with a 26-4 record, winning the South Coast Conference Championship and advancing to the CCCAA State Championship Elite Eight.

As a freshman at ELAC, Bivens averaged 9.1 points- and 6.0 rebounds-per-game, and shot 53.6 percent from the field in 33 games, including 14 starts. The Huskies advanced to the CCCAA State Championship Finals and finished the 2014-15 season with a 22-11 record.  

"I am really excited that Richard has chosen FIU." said John Mosley, head basketball coach at ELAC. "I think it is a great fit. I have coached Rich for two years and he has been a model of what the student-athlete should embody. Rich is consistent on and off the court as well as in the classroom. He is a dynamic force that has led East Los Angeles College to two of the best seasons in the school's history. Congratulations to Coach Anthony Evans and the FIU family for getting a great person and great student-athlete in Richard Bivens."

Bivens played his scholastic ball at Ridgeview High School in Bakersfield where he averaged an impressive 19.4 points-, 14.4 rebounds- and 1.2 blocked shots-per-contest for the Wolfpack as a senior captain. For his efforts, Bivens was named First-Team All-South Yosemite Conference, and an all-state nominee, as well as participating in the All-Valley All-Star game.

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About FIU Athletics: FIU Athletics is home to more than 400 student-athletes in 18 different sports. Athletic events are played in seven different venues on FIU's campuses (Modesto A. Maidique and Biscayne Bay), including FIU Arena and at the FIU Football Stadium.
 
About FIU: Florida International University is recognized as a Carnegie engaged university. Its colleges and schools offer more than 180 bachelor¹s, master¹s and doctoral programs in fields such as engineering, international relations, architecture, law and medicine. As one of South Florida's anchor institutions, FIU is Worlds Ahead in its local and global engagement, finding solutions to the most challenging problems of our time. FIU emphasizes research as a major component of its mission. FIU has awarded 200,000 degrees and enrolls 50,000 students in two campuses and three centers including FIU Downtown on Brickell and the Miami Beach Urban Studios. FIU is a member of Conference USA and has 400 student-athletes participating in 18 sports. For more information about FIU, visit http://www.fiu.edu/.